Shuttleworth to Pay Príncipe Residents $958 Stipend to Preserve Island

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYFebruary 22, 2026 at 5:31 PM UTC

TLDR

Entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth launches conservation income program on Príncipe Island, benefiting 60% of adult residents.
Program offers quarterly payments up to $958 dubbed as a "natural dividend" for biodiversity protection commitment.
Initiative funded through a nightly €25 conservation levy from hotel guests will undergo a 3-year pilot worth €15 million.

Tech entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth is introducing a conservation-linked income program on Príncipe, a small island in São Tomé and Príncipe, where he owns several luxury resorts. Through his nonprofit Faya, up to 3,000 residents, about 60% of the island’s adult population, will receive annual payments of as much as 20,000 dobras, or about $958. The payments will be distributed quarterly and are described as a “natural dividend.”

Residents must have lived on the island for at least 8 years and commit to avoiding activities that harm biodiversity to qualify.

Príncipe is a UNESCO biosphere reserve known for its high number of endemic species. Shuttleworth acquired the Bom Bom resort in 2012 and now owns 4 hotels on the island through HBD Príncipe. Hotel guests pay a €25 nightly conservation levy, which funds environmental and community projects.

The program will begin with a 3-year pilot costing about €15 million. Organizers will assess whether it can be maintained and expanded after the trial period.

Key Takeaways

The initiative reflects a growing model in conservation finance that links ecosystem protection to direct payments for local communities. Rather than relying solely on government or donor funding, the program uses tourism revenue to fund biodiversity protection. Across Africa, similar approaches are gaining traction. Gabon received $17 million in 2021 under a results-based agreement to reduce deforestation. Such mechanisms aim to align economic incentives with conservation goals. For small island economies like Príncipe, where tourism is central, protecting natural assets is tied to long-term income. Direct payments may strengthen community support for conservation, though sustainability will depend on consistent funding and clear compliance standards. If successful, the model could offer a template for private-sector-led biodiversity financing in other regions.

São Tomé and Príncipe