ALM UNDP

Summary:

National adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) provide a process for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to identify priority activities that respond to their urgent and immediate needs to adapt to climate change – those for which further delay would increase vulnerability and/or costs at a later stage. The following summarizes the NAPA for Cape Verde.

Climate Related Hazards *Water Resources* * Decrease of agricultural production for irrigated and rain fed crops * Increase in the water demand * Increase of conflicts on water * Over exploitation of the aquifers * Saline intrusion * Abandonment of water wells * Insufficient water for domestic, industrial supply, and others * Degradation of sanitary conditions * Biodiversity degradation * Water deficit * Reduction of the availability of surface water * Reduction of underground waters * Reduction of the flow of water from springs and wells * Transportation of basalt blocks – soil erosion * Reduction in crop yields * Flooding * Low animal raising productivity * Abandoning of agricultural lands * Reduction of the regenerative capacity of soil * Acceleration of desertification * Reduction of forage * Salinity of soils and water sources near the coastal areas * Erosion of the coastal line * Degradation of the vegetation and loss of marine habitats * Degradation of water quality * Increase of poverty * Water borne diseases * Reduction of the income of families * Reduction of jobs * Irrational exploration of natural resources *Agriculture/Food Security* * Reduction of the duration of the rainy season and increase of the dry season; * Reduction of water availability; * Increase of water needs * Increase of arid and semi-arid areas in detriment of the humid and sub humid areas; * Increase of the incidence of pests and vectors of illnesses; * Possible reduction of certain cryptogrammic leaf diseases and increase of others; * Increase of the rate of soil erosion; * Reduction of the photosynthetic capacity of crops; * Reduction of crop yields for both irrigated and rain fed crops; * Increased exploitation of water tables; * Reduction of the productivity of agricultural lands in zones affected by droughts ; * Reduction of agricultural production; * Saline intrusion in watersheds and water tables; * Agricultural land abandonment; * Salinization and abandonment of wells; * Alteration in deposits of sediments; * Rural exodus; * Alimentary deficit ; * Deficit of pasture; * Poor animal nutrition; * Increase of thermal stress in animals; * Reduction of animal productivity; * Increase of arid and semi-arid lands; * Reduction of productivity in pasture lands affected by drought; * Increase of water needs; * Likely increase of morbidity and mortality; * Reduction of incomes of rural populations ; * Protein deficiencies *Coastal Zones* * Erosion of the coastal line * Alteration of the coast due to erosion * Alteration of the coastal morphology * Disappearance of beaches * Destruction of the land/sea natural protection * Degradation of the marine and coastal environment * Saline intrusion in the coastal rivers and aquifers located 500 m from the coast * Water contamination due to toxic dejects * Abandonment of water sources due to salinization * Flooding of the coastal zones * Alteration of the intensity of maritime currents * Abandonment of tourism infra-structures and coastal properties (houses, agricultural lands, etc.) * Food insecurity of the populations * Frequency of intense and dry sand storms * Increase of air aridity * Increase of potential evapo-transpiration * Increase of water consumption * Loss of interest for the country as a tourist destination * Change of tourist destinations * Cancelled flights – poor visibility * Commercial disturbances * Negative modifications of the economic structure * Increased economic losses * Increase of damages caused by flooding * Increased costs in the economy * Increase of the risk of deaths and infectious epidemics * Increase of damage in the coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs * Destruction of infra-structures (roads, ports, housing, agricultural lands, hotels, beaches, coastal villages, bridges, protection walls, etc.) * Coastal and marine pollution * Destruction of tourism spaces * Air pollution * Increase of the intensity of coastal degradation due to alteration of the amplitudes and aggressiveness of the tides * Abandonment of agricultural lands * Reduction of the potential of agricultural production in the lower coastal zones * Saline intrusion * Appearance of tropical diseases such as malaria, cholera, blood pressure, lung diseases * Destruction of coastal products of tourist interest * Migration of the coastal populations to the interior of islands * Degradation of the environment 

Main Human Vulnerabilities and Livelihood Impacts * Water Resources * Food Security * Coastal/Marine Ecosystems 

Priority Adaptation Projects *Water Management* Mobilization and integrated water resource management project *Agriculture* Modernization and diversification of agricultual production for food security improvement *Coastal Zones* Integrated Protection and management of coastal zones