EcoTrust

Established in Uganda in 1999, ECOTRUST is an NGO focussed on conserving biological diversity and enhancing social welfare. 

Western Uganda’s forests are rich in biodiversity – home to endangered chimpanzees and many species found nowhere else. However, fuelwood collection, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure linked to hydrocarbon development is causing rapid habitat loss. Native forests are being cleared for crops and eucalyptus plantations, threatening the vital ecological corridors that connect key forest reserves. 

This ERF grant supports the first phase of a plan to conserve over 50,000 hectares of forest by securing and restoring a critical 124-hectare chimpanzee corridor between Bugoma and Wambabya forest reserves. This includes purchasing and leasing land, restoring degraded woodland through the planting of around 50,000 native seedlings, and establishing conservation agreements with local communities. By reconnecting fragmented habitats, the project will enable chimpanzee troops to move safely across the landscape while supporting long-term forest recovery and sustainable land management.