Cape Verde

Sperm whales

IUCN approves major new North Atlantic marine sanctuary

The IUCN World Conservation Congress has voted to establish the Macaronesia Sanctuary. This massive transnational protected area spans the waters of Spain, Portugal, and Cape Verde, creating one of the world’s most ambitious marine sanctuaries. By safeguarding a vast migration corridor across four archipelagos, the initiative protects essential habitats from industrial fishing and maritime traffic. This historic agreement unites nations in a shared mission to secure the long-term resilience of this vital Atlantic ecosystem.

Mosquito

Cape Verde is declared malaria-free

Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, was given the status by the World Health Organization (WHO) as it has not reported a single case of local transmission in three years. Experts have hailed this as a major achievement. It’s the first time a sub-Saharan African nation has been declared malaria-free in 50 years.