RENATURMAC Initiative Empowers Cape Verdean Women to Lead Sustainable Tourism
The RENATURMAC initiative, led by Tenerife’s ITER, is empowering women in Cape Verde’s Varanda community to drive sustainable tourism and environmental conservation within the Serra Malagueta Natural Park.
The Canary Islands and West Africa have strengthened their partnership through the RENATURMAC initiative. Led by the Technological and Renewable Energy Institute (ITER) of the Tenerife Island Council, this project is part of the MAC 2021-2027 cooperation program. Its latest focus is the community of Varanda on Santiago Island, Cape Verde, where the goal is to balance the protection of the Serra Malagueta Natural Park with the economic needs of local residents.
The project’s success relies on the women of Varanda. Experts from ITER and the Cape Verdean Institute of Cultural Heritage have identified the local, female-led association as the foundation for this sustainability strategy. These women are seen as both protectors of traditional practices and natural resources, and as leaders capable of driving economic growth through responsible tourism.
The project’s roadmap goes beyond environmental conservation. It includes training for female heads of households in tourism management and sustainable practices. To manage visitor numbers, the project will also install multilingual signs along the route between Ribeira de São Miguel and Serra Malagueta. This will help visitors learn about local history and nature while ensuring that tourism does not harm the ecosystem.
By combining ITER’s technical expertise with the needs of the Cape Verdean community, RENATURMAC reflects a shift in international cooperation: moving away from treating local populations as passive recipients and instead empowering them to lead their own progress. By linking social stability with the sustainable use of resources, the initiative aims to protect a vital natural area while helping the community build a future based on its own cultural and natural heritage.