Cultural Heritage and Community on Maio Island (Cape Verde): A Participatory Assessment for Sustainable Development

Abstract

This study focuses on analyzing the heritage resources of Maio Island, Cape Verde, with the objective of designing strategies aimed at their protection and raising awareness among the community and local stakeholders about the importance of preserving their cultural heritage. The proposal seeks to position heritage as a key driver for sustainably revitalizing the economy, creating new employment opportunities through tourism and the development of cultural industries, improving traditional production systems, and strengthening the island's social and institutional fabric. The research combines a humanistic approach with participatory methodologies, including interviews, surveys, and fieldwork. These tools allow for the identification of the island’s heritage elements, the assessment of their perception within the community, and the evaluation of both existing threats and opportunities.

The study concludes that the preservation of cultural heritage, integrated into a sustainable tourism model, can become a key driver for economic growth and social cohesion. To achieve this, it highlights the importance of actively involving the local population in heritage management, implementing participatory policies that not only strengthen their cultural identity and prevent its loss but also ensure respectful and sustainable tourism development.