Community-led forest conservation in Uganda's Madi region

Uganda’s forest ecosystem, particularly in the Madi Sub-region, is facing rapid degradation due to population pressure, climate change, agricultural expansion, and human settlement demand of both host and refugee communities. The remaining forest reserves are under increased pressure from surrounding communities, illegal loggers and commercial charcoal burners, resulting into habitat, forest biodiversity, and general ecosystem services loss. These challenges are intensifying poverty, food insecurity, and vulnerability to climate shocks such as droughts and floods. Women and girls are disproportionately affected compared to men, as they bear the primary responsibility for collecting water and wood fuel, exposing them to increased workloads, safety risks, and reduced educational and economic opportunities.

This project aims to address these challenges through community-led approaches through forest and environmental protection, conservation and sustainable use. The project directly benefit approximately 17,952 people, (40–50% this will be women and girls), composing of forest-adjacent communities, local leaders, youth groups, and schoolchildren, while indirectly benefiting over 100,000 people across the Madi Sub-region.

The overall goal is to reduce forest and environmental degradation by strengthening community participation, increase awareness, and enhance sustainable natural resource use practices. The key objectives are to; enhance community knowledge on forest and environmental protection, conservation, improve stewardship, and encourage sustainable use and practices among host and refugee communities in Madi –sub-region.

The expected outcomes includes improved forest and environmental awareness, increased sustainable forest and environmental use, strengthened local governance structures, and increased participation of women and youth in forest and environmental management. In the long run, the project will contribute to enhanced climate resilience, improved land productivity, and conservation of forest ecosystems.