Poilão

Poilão is an island in the Bijagós (Bissagos) Archipelago of Guinea-Bissau known primarily for its significance as a green sea turtle nesting site. The island has long been recognized by researchers and local communities for very high numbers of turtle nests during the breeding season.

The island’s primary attraction for researchers and conservationists is its long, lightly developed nesting beaches which host large concentrations of Chelonia mydas (green sea turtles) during the nesting season. Access to the island is managed by local communities and conservation authorities to protect nesting turtles and hatching success.

Conservation and community-based protection measures have been important in recent decades to maintain nesting habitat and reduce poaching and disturbance. The island lies within the maritime environment of the southern Bijagós, among other small islands and reefs that form the archipelago off the coast of Guinea-Bissau.

• Turtle nesting: One of the most important green sea turtle nesting sites in the Bijagós Archipelago, with conservation monitoring recording thousands of nests in peak seasons.
• Access and protection: Access is controlled by local communities and conservation programs to reduce disturbance during nesting and hatching seasons.

What to See #

• Nesting beaches: Long sandy nesting beaches that receive the bulk of green sea turtle nesting activity and are the primary focus of local conservation work.