Cacheu

Cacheu

Overview:

The town of Cacheu on the Rio Cacheu is home to a National Park, the fort of the English pirate Drake, and a pier (ferry services have been discontinued – local boats provide trips to San Domingo. The ferry services at the San Vincent crossing were not function as well and the new bridge is years away from being completed. Access is approximatively 100 kilometers from Bissau via auto. Once there the options are the “bungalows (7 well equipped huts – A/C, fridge, tv, private bathrooms – assumes electricity and water are operations). The other option is the rooms at the Park.)

Many species of fish, wildlife, etc are to be found. A recommend trip would be to boat from Verala in Senegal to the port although whether this is possible is uncertain. Commercial agriculture would be a sound use of natural resources. Exportation of specific items is what drives the economy. Cashews are in abundance and the derived uses of tree, fruit, juice, and nut are still being developed.

(Note: English is not readily available and the trip is not traditional tourism.)

Visit to Cacheu National Park – Guinea Bissua

*The park has traditional villages with in the boundaries
Protection of the mangroves, vegetation and wildlife appears to be an objective
*The funding organizations are IUCN (The Green Web) and IBAP are working on ecotourism, conservation and biodiversity projects although formal measurable progress and continued support are uncertain.
*Two reports by IUCN (WWW.IUCN.ORG) can be obtain:
1. The Economic Value of Wild Resources in Senegal
2. Managing Wetlands in Arid Regions
*Solar power is used for electrical generation

Additions (needed and ideal)

*A pump system for the well or a fresh water feeding system
*Electricity generation – generators would be a helpful start
*Water trailers – tow-able with pumping systems
*Linking the water way access to the ocean

*Lightweight carbon fiber piping to carry water from the river via an aqueduct would be an interesting project for an area so dry yet fertile
*Development of rice or other agricultural products in the region with possible genetic standardization of Cashew trees planted and cultivated in a systematic meaner