MEET OUR TEAM
Programa Tatô is the result of the work and dedication of more than 80 people, between members of the local communities, young graduated, national and international technicians.
Meet our coordination team below!
Meet our coordination team
Antunes Pina
Technician
Biologist graduated from the University of São Tomé and Príncipe, he was born in São Tomé. He did his first internship with Programa Tatô in 2018, following all the activities developed by the conservation program. He quickly stood out for his professionalism, creativity and communication skills, joining the technical team of Programa Tatô in 2019. He is currently the Environmental Education and Awareness Officer, responsible for developing awareness and environmental education actions in schools and coastal communities of São Tomé Island.
Venceslau Soares
Technician
Graduated in Biology from the University of São Tomé and Príncipe. He participated in the 6-month internship of Associação Programa Tatô in 2020 and thus grew a desire to deepen his knowledge more and more and contribute to the work developed by Programa Tatô. Since then he has been part of the field team. It is responsible for monitoring and supervising teams of local agents, supervising and collecting data, and responsible for monitoring the ecotourism activities of sea turtle watching, more specifically at Jalé beach.
Wilson Das Neves
Administrative and Financial
Graduated in Accounting and Administration, gained experience in the preparation and analysis of financial records and in the provision of services as a financial and logistics assistant in a leading national accounting company. He got involved in several poverty reduction and social inclusion projects with the NGO Humanity First, when in 2019 he decided to participate in a 6-month internship with Programa Tatô. During the internship, he realized that the conservation of biodiversity could be a great ally in the fight against poverty, becoming a member of the team, as responsible for accounting and logistics of Programa Tatô in São Tomé.
Martinho Bobô
Beach Ranger Santana
São Tomé
Known by Amílcar, fisherman and resident in the community of Messias Alves. For 15 years he has been one of the focal points of Programa Tatô in his community. His dedication and experience in sea turtle monitoring and conflict mediation was crucial to completely stop the killing of sea turtles in his community. Nowadays, he is responsible for the monitoring teams of Santana and Agua Izé and co-founder of the Association Programa Tatô.
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Martinho Rosa
Beach Monitoring Assistant Supervisor
Known by Jorgino, fisherman and resident in the community of Micoló has been one of the focal points of Programa Tatô in his community for more than 15 years. His extensive technical experience and conservationist spirit has been crucial in reducing the capture and commercialization of sea turtles, as well as the awareness of the local communities of São Tomé. Nowadays, he is responsible for supervising the monitoring teams of Micoló and Fernão Dias and a co-founder of the Association Programa Tatô.
Elísio Neto
Technical Advisor
Marine biologist with extensive experience in the management of fishing resources and associations of the fishing communities of São Tomé and Príncipe. He is one of the founding members and executive secretary of MARAPA. Over the past 20 years he has been involved in the implementation of fisheries management projects in the country. In addition, he has and extensive experience in the field of biology and conservation of sea turtles, since he was supervisor of the technical team of Programa Tatô from 2003 to 2013. He is a co-founder member of the Association Programa Tatô and Chairman of the Fiscal Council.
Frédéric Airaud
Conselheiro Técnico
Agro-economist specialist in environment and fisheries with more than 15 years of professional experience in managing nature conservation projects and sustainable management of natural resources in Africa. With a wide range of professional experience, from the management of marine protected areas, participatory fisheries management, adaptation to climate change, integrated coastal zone management, environmental education and environmental impact assessment, in addition to being a co-founder of Associação Programa Tatô, he has provided a fundamental support for the growth of the Association as a Technical Adviser.
Victor Jiménez Guri
Creative Officer
Graphic designer and plastic artist born in Barcelona. In 2012, he decided to participate in a sea turtle conservation volunteer program in Cape Verde. Here, his projects and professional experience crossed with marine conservation specialists. Since 2013 he is based in São Tomé, and develops works related to the conservation of sea turtles and community development. He is currently co-founder and Creative Officer of Programa Tatô.
Hipólito Lima
Beach Monitoring Supervisor
Best known has the Father of Sea Turtles of São Tome and Príncipe, he has been involved in sea turtle conservation for over 20 years and is one of the founders of Programa Tatô Association. Nowadays he is responsible for supervising the local monitoring agents of the main nesting beaches and sea turtle foraging areas in São Tomé Island.
Betânia Ferreira
Director
She is a Marine Biologist, and has been involved in the conservation of sea turtles for the last 20 years. She has been developing and coordinating research and conservation projects in several places around the world, such as Oman, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau. Since 2014 she collaborates with Programa Tatô in São Tomé and Príncipe and is currently co-founder, President of the Direction and Director of the Association Programa Tatô.
Sara Vieira
Vice-president / Technical Coordinator
She is a Marine Biologist, with more than 10 years of experience in the conservation of sea turtles, as a technician, researcher and environmental educator, in community-based projects in Africa and Central America. Since 2014 she coordinates the sea turtle conservation project in São Tomé and is currently co-founder, vice president of the Direction and technical and scientific coordinator of the Association Programa Tatô.
Jorge Carvalho
Technical Advisor
Fisheries Engineer and one of the founders of MARAPA and the Association Programa Tatô. Over the last 20 years he has been involved in the implementation of several fishery management and research projects in São Tomé and Príncipe. Thanks to his vast experience in the conservation and research of sea turtles, he was the national focal point of the Regional Program for the Conservation of Sea Turtles (PROTOMAC) and coordinated Programa Tatô from 2003 to 2010. Today he is the Executive Director of MARAPA and President of General Assembly of the Association Programa Tatô.