Protect Uganda's Cranes & Restore Wetland Habitat

Dear Donor,

We are pleased to share an important achievement from our work to promote sustainable natural resource management and responsible fisheries in the Buliisa region. With generous support from the Ecosystems Alliance, the Uganda Wildlife Society (UWS) supported nine Beach Management Units (BMUs) with legal fishing equipment to strengthen responsible fishing practices and improve the livelihoods of fishing communities.

The supported BMUs are located in Kabolwa, Karakaba, Bugoigo, Piida A, Piida B, Walukuba, Nyamukunta, Wasenko, and Kalolo. Each BMU was supplied with 51 pieces of legal fishing nets and 20 spools, providing community members with appropriate equipment for fishing activities while encouraging compliance with responsible fisheries management practices.

Access to legal fishing gear is an important component of sustainable fisheries conservation. The initiative helps fishing communities move away from destructive or prohibited fishing practices that can threaten fish populations, damage aquatic ecosystems, and undermine the long-term sustainability of livelihoods dependent on fisheries.

The distribution of appropriate fishing equipment also strengthens the role of BMUs in promoting responsible resource use within their communities. As organized community structures, BMUs can play an important role in encouraging adherence to fisheries regulations, raising awareness among fishers, and supporting collective action to protect aquatic resources.

For households that depend on fishing, healthy fish stocks are essential for food security, income generation, and community livelihoods. Supporting sustainable fishing practices therefore creates an important connection between conservation and economic wellbeing. When aquatic resources are managed responsibly, communities can continue benefiting from them without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.

The initiative demonstrates that conservation can be strengthened when communities are provided with practical alternatives and the tools needed to adopt sustainable practices.

We sincerely thank the Ecosystems Alliance for supporting this important intervention and appreciate the commitment of the nine BMUs and the fishing communities of Buliisa to responsible fisheries management.

Together, we are empowering fishing communities, promoting legal and sustainable fishing, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and safeguarding livelihoods for generations to come

Dear Donor,

We are pleased to share an important milestone in our efforts to strengthen forest conservation and promote sustainable natural resource management. As part of our community engagement activities, the Uganda Wildlife Society organized four stakeholder dialogues that brought together approximately 2,000 people to raise awareness about the urgent need for greater collaboration in restoring and conserving Uganda's forests.

The dialogues created important spaces for communities, local leaders, conservation stakeholders, and other partners to discuss the challenges facing forests and identify opportunities for coordinated action. Participants explored how different stakeholders can work together to address forest degradation, promote restoration, and encourage responsible management of natural resources.

A key message from the dialogues was that forest conservation cannot be achieved by one organization or community working alone. Forest ecosystems are interconnected with agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, climate resilience, and local livelihoods. Effective restoration therefore requires communities, government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, private-sector actors, and other stakeholders to work toward shared conservation goals.

Through the four dialogues, participants were encouraged to strengthen communication, share knowledge, coordinate conservation activities, and support practical restoration initiatives within their respective areas. The discussions also emphasized the importance of community participation and local ownership in ensuring that forest conservation efforts deliver lasting results.

Reaching approximately 2,000 people through these engagements has helped expand awareness of the importance of forests and the collective responsibility required to protect them. Participants were encouraged to become champions for sustainable land use, forest restoration, and responsible natural resource management within their communities.

The dialogues have also strengthened opportunities for stakeholder synergy, helping create a stronger foundation for coordinated conservation action beyond the project period.

We sincerely appreciate the support that has enabled these important conversations and thank all participants, community members, leaders, and stakeholders who contributed their time and knowledge.

When communities and institutions work together, restoration becomes more than a project—it becomes a shared commitment.

Together, we are building stronger partnerships, mobilizing communities, and creating a collective movement to restore and conserve Uganda's precious forests for present and future generations.

Links:

• Empowering Buliisa Communities for Sustainable Natural Resource