Conservation and ecotourism increase natural capital asset value: an economic assessment of sea turtles on Boa Vista Island, Cabo Verde

Sea turtles are of significant ecological, sociocultural, and economic importance to coastal communities globally. After historical population declines, many populations have shown a positive response to conservation efforts, and their status as a flagship species for wildlife watching tourism has facilitated the growth of turtle-based ecotourism. If not sustainably managed, turtle-watching tourism can have negative impacts on wildlife, but with best practice can offer direct benefits to the local economy as well as positive contributions to conservation management. Here, we quantify the Total Economic Value (TEV) of the nesting population of the loggerhead Caretta caretta sea turtle on Boa Vista Island, Cabo Verde, for the first time. The nesting abundance of this population has risen dramatically following the implementation of conservation efforts three decades ago, alongside an expansion of turtle-watching tourism which since 2006 has evolved into a significant component of the tourism sector. Our estimates indicate that the annual TEV of the population has risen dramatically between 2008 and 2019 from approximately €300,000 to almost €2 million, driven by an increase in the non-use and non-consumptive value of the population through conservation investment and ecotourism and a decrease in the consumptive value through poaching. Tourist WTP values indicate the potential for further revenue to be generated to contribute to conservation. Our results can inform future policy decisions and natural capital assessments in Cabo Verde that may support the sustainable expansion of turtle watching as a significant component of the developing tourism sector, providing an alternative income source and economic benefits to local communities and further reducing consumptive use of the population. • We quantify the economic value of loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta on Boa Vista Island, Cabo Verde for the first time. • The TEV of the population is estimated as almost $2 million, combining use and non-use values. • In Cabo Verde, turtle watching can provide significant socioeconomic benefits and an important funding source to conservation.