Shuttleworth launches conservation income scheme for Príncipe residents
South African tech entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth is launching a conservation‑linked income programme on Príncipe, São Tomé and Príncipe, through his non‑profit Faya. Up to 3,000 adults – around 60 per cent of the island’s adult population – will receive up to 20,000 dobras (about $958) a year, paid quarterly, as a ‘natural dividend’ for protecting biodiversity. The three‑year pilot, costing about €15 million, is believed to be the first privately funded initiative to directly compensate a community for environmental stewardship and aligns with Shuttleworth’s HBD Príncipe hotel investments that already collect a €25 nightly conservation levy.
Eligible residents – those living on the island for at least eight years and committing to avoid activities harmful to nature – will also benefit from additional funding for housing, education and social programmes. A UNESCO biosphere reserve, Príncipe’s model reflects a wider shift toward results‑based conservation finance across Africa; in 2021, Gabon received $17 million under the Central African Forest Initiative for reducing deforestation. For tourism, the scheme aims to strengthen community buy‑in and safeguard the natural assets that underpin sustainable travel to the island.
Source: Business Insider Africa
