Budongo-Bugoma Corridor Restoration

Funded by the World Land Trust, this project aims to restore forest connectivity between Bugoma and Budongo forests to enable chimpanzee movement.

The Budongo–Bugoma Corridor Restoration Project is one of Uganda’s most important landscape-level conservation initiatives focusing on joining the tropical forests i.e Budongo Forest Reserve and Bugoma Forest Reserve found within the rich Albertine Rift.

Before, the Budongo and Bugoma forests were part of a continuous forest ecosystem although, the forest land was cleared for agriculture, population growth increased demand for land and fuelwood, Logging and charcoal burning increased.

In the forest, wildlife populations become isolated, Genetic diversity declined and Human–wildlife conflict increased.

Main Goal of the Project

The main goal of the project is to restore ecological connectivity between Budongo and Bugoma forests which ensures

Free movement of wildlife

Long-term survival of species (i.e chimpanzees)

Healthier ecosystems across the landscape

The project also aims to improve

Climate resilience

Local livelihoods

Sustainable land use practices

Activities

a) Reforestation and Tree Planting

Large-scale planting of indigenous trees

Example: plans to plant hundreds of thousands of trees across restored land

Some initiatives target millions of trees and thousands of hectares

b) Community-Based Restoration

Local communities are at the center of the project

Farmers encouraged to adopt agroforestry

Incentives for conserving private forests

Training in sustainable farming

c) Conservation Incentives (Biocredits / PES)

Introduction of biodiversity credits (biocredits)

Payments for ecosystem services (PES)

Communities earn benefits for protecting forests

d) Securing Land for Restoration

Land purchased, leased, or protected through agreements

Example: securing hundreds of hectares for restoration

e) Wildlife Conservation (Chimpanzees Focus)

The corridor is critical for the eastern chimpanzee:

Enables movement between forest populations

Reduces inbreeding risks

Protects habitat outside protected areas

Projects aim to restore over 2,700 hectares of chimpanzee habitat