Restoring Uganda with the Jane Goodall Institute

The Albertine Rift is a region that spans central Africa with critical forests, housing unique biodiversity, and ecosystems. The area encompasses the Great Lakes of Africa, stretching from the northern tip of Lake Albert to southern Lake Tanganyika. In total, it covers aspects of five different African countries, including Uganda. 

This project focuses on planting trees in the Budongo-Bugoma Corridor to enhance local biodiversity. The Budongo Forest is known for having the habitat for the largest number of chimpanzees across all of Uganda. Between these two forests, there is an estimated population of over 1,000 chimpanzees, making these corridors vital to the ecosystem and biodiversity of the Albertine Rift.

The Albertine Rift Forests are home to a unique biodiversity. They are known for exceptionally high levels of endemism and diversity, making them homes to critical ecosystems across Africa. These forests are recognized among the World’s Top 200 Most Biologically Valuable Ecoregions. They represent a hugely important area for biodiversity conservation, providing significant cultural, economic, and ecological significance for Africa.

This region is also home to a number of critically essential species, ranging from diversifying plants to reptiles and mammals.

Along with the Jane Goodall Institute, One Tree Planted seeks to preserve these critical species by planting trees in the Budongo-Bugoma Corridor. With a population of over 1,000 chimpanzees between these two forests, trees are a vital necessity to restoring the lands and providing habitat for the chimpanzees. Through their hardworking efforts, our partner, the Jane Goodall Institute in Uganda, has restored 9,000 acres of degraded and depleted forest landscapes, providing critical habitat for over 2,000 chimpanzees. 

This project builds upon that rich legacy by fostering community-driven conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding and nurturing the local chimpanzee population. It entails the creation of a network of protected forests that not only connect chimpanzee habitats but also secure their ability to reproduce and sustain the species for generations to come.

The Albertine Rift is a crucial habitat for chimpanzees, particularly within the Budonga and Bugoma Forests. The trees planted in this project will help provide habitat for these species while preserving their populations, ensuring future generations of beautiful chimpanzees.

Though this project has a primary objective of protecting the chimpanzees and restoring landscapes, like so many projects, many community benefits come with the trees planted in this region. Communities across the region have benefitted from the trees planted in this project. 

The reforestation efforts of this planting project support the livelihoods of thousands of local people in the region, providing communities with economic opportunities they didn’t have access to before. This project also encourages community members to get involved, empowering them to make an impact in their local ecosystems. 

With community-based conservation efforts, these projects have helped to support over 3,500 households to create more sustainable livelihoods through improved agricultural practices and other environmental programs. 

Trees are not only a precious gift to nature but also an invaluable gift to communities. Through numerous projects, like the one we are engaged in, trees have consistently brought positive transformation to local populations. One Tree Planted takes great pride in contributing to this ongoing project.