Cape Verde first emerged millions of years ago as the result of volcanic activity.
Today Cape Verde consists of nine inhabited islands and numerous islets with a total land area of 4,033 sq. km.
The islands are separated into three groups:

• the northern islands of Santo Antão, São Vicente, and São Nicolau;
  
• the eastern islands of Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio;
  
• and the southern group consisting of Santiago, Fogo, and Brava.
  
  The landscape of the younger islands, in particular Fogo, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau, is characterized by steep, high mountains and deep river valleys, while the older islands of Maio, Boa Vista, and Sal, having experienced greater erosion, are more flat.
  Cape Verde is located at the border of the North African arid and semiarid climatic regions, with a climate defined as dry tropical sahelian.
  Temperature ranges are narrow as the climate is moderated by the surrounding ocean.
  Rainfall is the islands primary limiting factor, with annual averages of less than 300mm for the 65% percent of the territory that is located below 400 meters in elevation.
  The rainy season is concentrated between July and September and northeastern winds carry moderate humidity throughout the fall and winter months.
  Analysis of the hydrological balance shows that a total of 180 million cubic meters of water falls upon Cape Verde annually.
  
  Due to a lack of intake and storage structures, 87% of this rain fall is lost to run-off and evaporation.
  What water is captured is supplemented by underground aquifers estimated to contain 124 million cubic meters, of which only 44 million cubic meters are accessible during dry years.
  Cape Verde suffers from a high rate of erosion, averaging 7.8 tons/ha/year.
  Each of the six chosen project sites are located in high elevation zones with steep slopes and relatively high rainfall resulting in higher average rates of erosion.
  Overgrazing by ruminant species and poor agricultural practices have further exacerbated the problem.
  Cape Verde has undertaken a reforestation program to aid in combating the problem of erosion, with 85,000 hectares reforested in the 25 years since independence, but the problem remains severe