Protect Uganda's Cranes & Restore Wetland Habitat

Dear Donor,

We are pleased to share another important achievement from our environmental restoration initiative along the degraded shores of Lake Victoria in Mayuge District, Eastern Uganda.

With generous support from the American Embassy through the Self-Help Ambassador Support, Uganda Wildlife Society (UWS), together with Mayuge District Local Government and beneficiary communities, has supported more than 100 households with tree seedlings to participate directly in the restoration of degraded habitats.

The supported households received seedlings, including Grevillea robusta and indigenous vegetation, which they planted on appropriate areas within and around their communities. This approach has enabled families to become active participants in environmental conservation while contributing to the recovery of degraded landscapes along the Lake Victoria shoreline.

Community participation is at the heart of this initiative. By placing tree restoration directly in the hands of local households, the project is helping communities develop a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility for the trees they plant. Families are encouraged to nurture and protect the seedlings so that they can grow into healthy vegetation that provides long-term environmental benefits.

To date, the broader restoration initiative has contributed to the planting of 63,000 tree seedlings and indigenous grasses across targeted degraded habitats. The involvement of more than 100 households is helping expand restoration beyond project sites and into community-managed areas.

These efforts are expected to contribute to reducing soil erosion, improving vegetation cover, protecting the Lake Victoria shoreline, enhancing biodiversity, and strengthening community resilience to environmental degradation and climate-related challenges.

We are deeply grateful to the American Embassy through the Self-Help Ambassador Support for investing in this community-led conservation initiative. We also appreciate Mayuge District Local Government and every participating household for their commitment to restoring and protecting the environment.

Every household that plants and protects a tree becomes part of a much larger movement to restore nature. Together, we are turning degraded landscapes into healthier ecosystems and creating a greener future for communities around Lake Victoria.

Thank you for supporting community-led conservation and helping us restore Uganda's precious natural heritage.