In Principe, protecting nature can now bring in money. On this small volcanic island in the Gulf of Guinea, known for its tropical forests, deserted beaches and exceptional biodiversity, several thousand residents have been participating since February 2026 in an experiment that is, to say the least, original: receiving a “natural dividend” in exchange for commitments intended to preserve their environment.
The program is supported by the Faya Foundation, created by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the HBD Príncipe group. Present on the island since 2010, the latter has developed several high-end hotels and an ecotourism model aimed at a wealthy international clientele. HBD today operates three establishments in Principe — Sundy Praia, Roça Sundy and Bom Bom — as well as a hotel in São Tomé.
Skip the ad
The principle of the “Natural Dividend” is simple: adult residents who sign up to the system undertake in particular not to participate in certain activities deemed destructive to the environment, such as unregulated felling of wood or sand extraction. The first payment was made on February 23, 2026. According to the foundation, 3,558 adults are now registered in the program, or approximately 70% of the adult population on the island. Some 3.5 million dobras were then distributed.
Nearly 200,000 euros distributed this summer
A second payment began on August 31. It represents 4.75 million dobras, or approximately 194,000 euros, according to Faya. The foundation estimates that this sum alone is equivalent to almost 1% of Principe’s annual economy.
The system must be tested for three years and benefits from an announced financial commitment of 15 million euros. The amounts received are linked to compliance with environmental protection commitments and the state of ecosystems. Their monitoring is based in particular on field observations and images taken by drone.
The stakes are all the more important as nature constitutes the main tourist attraction of this island of barely 140 km². Principe has been classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO since 2012. Since September 2025, São Tomé and Príncipe has even become the first state in the world whose entire territory is covered by biosphere reserves.
A model which also gives rise to reservations
However, the experience is not unanimous. Some local officials fear that a system financed by a private actor will create a form of dependence, while the island remains faced with significant economic difficulties and limited infrastructure.
Skip the ad
The foundation, for its part, insists that this dividend constitutes neither a salary nor social assistance. She claims to work with the regional government of Principe and presents the system as a tool intended to allow residents to directly benefit from the economic value created by the conservation of their environment.
The experiment should now make it possible to verify whether this financial incentive produces measurable effects on forests, waterways and the coastline. Faya does not hide its ambition: if the model proves itself on Principe, it could ultimately be tested elsewhere.
