Every 5 Acres project

Every 5 Acres project was established with the aim of buying private land to create a buffer zone for the forest and rehabilitate it to increase habitats for the chimpanzees and other primates. Every 5 Acres begun in 2020 with the idea of buying small pieces of land (starting with 5 acres) and turning them back into natural forest. It includes purchasing degraded/private farmland close to Bugoma then replant it with indigenous trees hence creating an initial forest buffer zone connected to Bugoma found in Kikuube District. It is done on the eastern edge of Bugoma Forest Reserve close to Bugoma Jungle Lodge.

The project Every 5 Acres in details

Area of the project

An area of 100 acres was identified and owned by farmers situated in Kimbugo Parish, Kabwoya sub county, Buhaguzi County, Kikuube District in the Eastern side of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve and close to Bugoma Jungle Lodge. This land is a highly sensitive area of buffer zone and was a wildlife migratory corridor for bush elephants where chimpanzees and Uganda mangabeys build nests. These although are affected by deforestation in initial years.

Therefore, the project has a direct impact on restoring and conserving the habitat for the endangered species of chimpanzees which is connected to Bugoma Forest reserve following the varying boundaries.

Land use under the project

The project Every 5 Acres includes planting indigenous tree species, natural regeneration of forest cover by proximity to the natural forest and other conservation activities so as to re-generate a permanent forest as a private forest reserve.

The local residents are allowed to use the land for communal purposes like collection of fire wood, cleaning activities, collection of medicinal herbs and other sustainable activities which do not interfere with the conservation of the forest and its wildlife as well as eco-tourism.

How does the Every 5 Acres Project Work?

Every piece of land is privately bought by the Association for Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ACBF) from local farmers as a Lease Hold or Free Hold.

Association for Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ACBF) buys the land, provides the management of the tree planting and maintenance in all the areas of the project. The Association proceeds to monitor the growing of the trees as well as provide further information on carbon sequestration by the project.

Every acre of acquired land will require about 800 tree seedlings that have to be planted and maintained over the years. The association offers the maintenance work sourcing from people in the local area. The work consists of tagging and measuring the trees, recording them and provide updates on their growth.

In 2023, about 1,260 trees were planted.

Every 5 Acres and Eco-Tourism

Tourists visiting Bugoma Forest Reserve and Bugoma Jungle Lodge can proceed to see the Every 5 Acres area under reforestation and to “plant a tree” as a symbolic initiative of participation in the reforestation. The trees to be planted are provided by the project free of charge for the tourists.