Communities Rewarded for Protecting Nature in Groundbreaking Model

São Tomé and Príncipe is rewarding thousands of villagers with direct payments for protecting forests, creating a new model that links livelihoods with conservation.

“This will be truly transformative, both for nature and for the people,” said Felipe Nascimento, president of the self-governing region.

Nearly 3,000 residents, more than 60% of adults, have joined the programme, receiving up to €816 per quarter, a significant income boost on the island. Backed by a £87 million long-term commitment, the initiative supports conservation across a remote island just 20 miles long and over 160 miles from mainland Africa, home to unique rainforests and species found nowhere else. Payments are tied to environmental behaviour, with reductions for activities such as illegal tree-felling. At the same time, the programme also funds school improvements, financial training, and sustainable livelihoods, including cacao farming and eco-tourism, creating a scalable model that could be replicated in other high-value ecosystems worldwide.