Protect Uganda's Cranes & Restore Wetland Habitat

Dear Donor,

What if the same piece of land could support food production, grow trees, protect soil, and provide future income opportunities for rural families? This is the opportunity that Uganda Wildlife Society (UWS) is promoting through agroforestry and sustainable natural resource management.

Working with smallholder households, UWS has promoted tree growing as a practical way to integrate environmental conservation into everyday farming activities. Through training and the provision of seedlings, farmers are being encouraged to incorporate suitable tree species into their farming systems and take a more active role in restoring degraded landscapes.

One important milestone is the support provided to 335 smallholder households trained in sustainable natural resource management and encouraged to adopt UWS-promoted technologies. The households received seedlings of several tree species, including Azadirachta indica, Khaya anthotheca, Cordia africana, Grevillea robusta, Maesopsis eminii, Albizia coriaria, and Terminalia superba.

These species offer different potential benefits depending on their growing conditions and management. Trees can contribute to soil protection, shade, improved farm diversity, and future supplies of useful products. Integrating appropriate species into farms can also help farmers reduce dependence on a single source of livelihood.

UWS is also advancing plans to establish 10 community tree nurseries with a target of producing 100,000 seedlings for agroforestry and increased tree cover in the Albertine Rift and Mayuge.

We recognize that successful agroforestry requires careful species selection, appropriate spacing, and continued seedling care. Our goal is to encourage practices that respond to local needs while supporting environmental restoration.

We thank our partners and participating households for helping make community-centered conservation possible.

By bringing trees into farming systems, we are helping connect environmental restoration with the long-term wellbeing of rural families.

Thank you for supporting sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and community resilience in Uganda.

Dear Donor,

We are delighted to share an inspiring achievement in our efforts to nurture environmental awareness and responsible natural resource management among young people in Uganda.

Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are also powerful agents of environmental change today. Equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to understand environmental challenges is essential to building a generation that values nature and takes action to protect it.

To advance this goal, the Uganda Wildlife Society (UWS) organized more than 15 student debates in schools, providing students with opportunities to explore environmental issues, exchange ideas, develop critical thinking skills, and discuss practical approaches to sustainable environmental management.

Through these debates, students were encouraged to examine issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, climate change, waste management, sustainable land use, and the responsible utilization of natural resources. The discussions provided a platform for learners to consider how human activities affect the environment and what individuals, schools, and communities can do to reduce environmental degradation.

The debates also encouraged students to research environmental topics, build confidence in public speaking, listen to different perspectives, and develop evidence-based arguments. These skills are valuable not only for academic development but also for helping young people become informed and responsible environmental citizens.

By bringing environmental discussions into schools, UWS is helping connect classroom learning with real-world conservation challenges. Students can share the knowledge gained with their families, friends, and wider communities, potentially extending the reach of environmental awareness beyond the school environment.

The initiative recognizes that lasting conservation requires a change in attitudes and everyday practices. When students understand the importance of forests, wetlands, wildlife, clean water, and healthy ecosystems, they are better positioned to make informed choices and encourage others to protect these resources.

We sincerely appreciate the schools, teachers, students, and partners who have contributed to these engagements. Their participation demonstrates the value of education and constructive dialogue in promoting environmental responsibility.

More than 15 student debates represent more than opportunities to speak—they are opportunities to learn, question, inspire, and develop the next generation of environmental champions.

Together, we are empowering young people with the knowledge, confidence, and motivation to protect Uganda's natural heritage and promote sustainable environmental management for generations to come.

Thank you for supporting environmental education and youth participation in conservation.