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IBAP
The Instituto da Biodiversidade e das Áreas Protegidas, Dr. Alfredo Simão da Silva (IBAP) is a national institution with a mandate to manage the Biodiversity and Protected Areas (PA) of Guinea Bissau.
Although under the Ministery of the Environment, the IBAP has administrative, financial and patrimonial autonomy, and therefore has the capacity to develop policies and norms related to the conservation of biodiversity and PA.
IBAP's headquarters, in the capital city of Bissau (Guinea-Bissau)
Approach
The National Strategy for the Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation, IBAP’s strategy, pursues the following vision: “The biodiversity of Guinea-Bissau is preserved in a sustainable way for the development of present and future generations”. IBAP’s mission is to “Manage the Protected Areas and the strategic biodiversity resources, based on scientific and traditional knowledge, promoting a broad participation and synergies, at local, national and international levels”. IBAP promotes the classification of Poilão as a sacred islet, something that has helped protecting sea turtles since remote times. Local communities in the Bijagós are still daily involved in the monitoring and surveillance of critical nesting beaches. This work is carried out in a strong partnership with national and international NGOs, and with university teams, which contribute to the training and the advancement of knowledge. IBAP coordinates the activities of the various partners and stakeholders engaged in this process.
Marine surveillance within the João Vieira-Poilão Marine National Park