Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists

Our traditional Conservation Education requires face to face engagement with school Willife Clubs and communities. The COVID-19 epidemic has changed all that. For the majority of our children there has been no school for almost 2 years. At the same time family incomes have fallen, poaching has increased and conservation has taken a back seat to putting food on the table. If our children cannot come to us we must go to them. For 3,000 older children we have printed and distributed weekly information and worksheets teaching about elephants and teh thresta to them. For younger children we have been broadcasting weekly elephant stories on the local radio. Our goal is that when children do eventually return to school, hopefully in Januray 2022, they will come with positive attitudes tio elephants and their conservation.

The COVID-19 epidemic in Uganda has had broad negative impact on the environment. Family incomes have fallen in already cash strapped families as a result of a catestrophic decline in tourism an important source of foreign currency and jobs. In addition repeated lockdowns have interfered with local commerce. When things get touch people are more likely to illegally turn to the forest resources to make ends meet. Snares increased by 70% in one chimpanzee community home range in one month alone.

Through hard work and ingenuity The Kasiisi Project is continuing to bring its message oc conservation to teh community in new ways using radio broadcasts, childrens art and story telling competitions, activity booklets and citizen science projects whcih reach up to 30,000 people.

• Kibale Explorerr_Big Friendly Giant (PDF)
  
• Kibale Explorer - Our closest cousin (PDF)