How villages became forest again in Uganda

Patience Atuhaire
BBC News
6 December 2019
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Residents have benefited from a government drive to replant trees in deforested parts of Uganda's Kibale
National Park, and now guard it jealously.

Kibale is home to endangered animals and indigenous trees. It is also a migration corridor for animals
crossing between different protected areas.

The natural tropical forest in Western Uganda was declared a national park in 1994. But by that time, more
than a third of it had been destroyed by human activity.

The park was also able to sell 200,000 tonnes of carbon credits three years ago on the international market.

Carbon trading, or off-setting, is when individuals or institutions pay conservationists for their efforts in re-
forestation - making up for their own contribution to carbon emissions.

Part of the resulting funds were invested in more replanting, and 40% given to the community, to generate
new activities that also contribute to preserving the forest.

Here are some of the moments we captured in Kibale National Park:

Wardens from the Uganda

Wildlife Authority monitor
the forest closely
Protecting the park now means that
chimpanzee numbers are rebounding

These reformed poachers now work as

beekeepers

Beekeeping helps to preserve the forest

The reforestation project means a large part

of the forest has regenerated itself