WWF restores 3430 hectares of forest cover in Rwenzori mountains national park

The World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF) Uganda  has restored 3439 hectares of forest cover in the Rwenzori Mountains national park, the NGO has said in its latest annual report.

Launched on Friday at Skyz Hotel in Naguru, the 2023 annual WWF Uganda report shows that the NGO funded by Hempel Foundation in Denmark launched an ambition reforestation project to restore the national park.

“The program in the past year successfully restored 3439 hectares engaging 1960 farmers along the stretch to adopt agro forestry,” WWF said in the report.

The NGO noted that under the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas(CAPA) initiative in the Greater Virunga Landscape with funding from Global Affairs Canada through the International Institute for Sustainable Development, they have restored 29 hectares with indigenous trees in the degraded parts of the national park.

WWF also says under the nature-based solutions for climate resilience and green jobs program, it has restored 250 hectares of forest cover benefitting 2000 households while another 144 youths have been trained in skills such as basked weaving, beekeeping, bamboo woven products, kitchenware production and vermicomposting generating a significant income for the household.

It is reported that sales have reached USD300 per household.

In the Albertine, WWF says it has successfully restored 1,126 hectares of previously degraded forests in Kagombe central forest reserve and established 479.4 hectares of community woodlots to enhance carbon stocks within the forests in line with Uganda’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Speaking during the launch of the report, Ivan Tumuhimbise, the WWF Uganda country director said destruction of nature has continued for many years.

“There is struggle for land for agricultural production, for investment and all other needs that humans have.  For that matter, wildlife and nature are encroached by humans and a lot of wildlife has been lost through lack suitable habitats or through humans having to hunt them down,” Tumuhimbise said.

He however said they have had partnerships with government and communities to help avert this situation.

“W have been working around restoration of degraded habitats. We have seen changes in our works towards restoration and creating opportunities for young people and indigenous people by improving their skills to ensure they participate in management of these resources around collaborative management.”