Reforestation for Endangered Chimpanzees with the Jane Goodall Institute
One Tree Planted and the Jane Goodall Institute are thrilled to announce a partnership for the Wildlife Habitat & Corridor Restoration Project in the Albertine Rift.
In celebration of World Chimpanzee Day, and the 60th anniversary of the day that Dr. Jane Goodall first arrived in what is now Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, to begin her ground-breaking study of the wild chimpanzees living there, the two organizations are initiating a partnership and project to plant 3 million trees in the Albertine Rift forest in Uganda.
The Albertine Rift landscape is an extraordinary and diverse ecosystem which is crucial to many species and is a prominent habitat for endangered chimpanzees. Created by the stretching apart of tectonic plates over millions of years, it houses over 50% of birds, 39% of mammals, 19% of amphibians, and 14% of reptiles and plants of mainland Africa. By pooling resources and combining efforts, One Tree Planted and the Jane Goodall Institute are aiming to restore and manage these vital wildlife communities.
Credit © the Jane Goodall Institute/ By Fernando Turmo
Through its Tacare approach to community-driven conservation across the chimpanzee range in Africa, the Jane Goodall Institute works to ensure the long-term protection of wild chimpanzee and other ape populations and their habitat, promote local governance and management of natural resources, and advance alternative sustainable livelihoods.
This project is no different, and will be critical to effectively protect, improve, and recover Uganda forests, which face a multitude of threats that contribute to wide-spread degradation. Over the last 25 years, millions of hectares of forest have been lost due to the increasing impact of human settlement, large and small scale agriculture, logging and fire. One Tree Planted’s contribution of funding will significantly aid in the long-term success of restoration efforts.
“We need to protect the existing forests. We need to try and restore the forest and the land around the forest that has not been degraded for too long, where the seeds and roots in the ground can sprout up and once again reclaim that land and make it an amazing forest ecosystem” said Dr. Jane Goodall.
Credit Michael Neugebaue
The Wildlife Habitat & Corridor Restoration Project will be implemented based on four key goals:
1. Restore degraded areas on community land in the Albertine Rift region of Uganda by planting native and nursery-grown seedlings with the involvement of local communities.
2. Rebuild devastated zones in Kagombe Central Forest Reserve by immediately restoring ecological functions to the area and setting the foundation for long-term recovery of the forest to its natural state.
3. Promote agroforestry practices on community land by educating individuals on how to integrate trees into farming systems, which will ultimately preserve productive ecosystems and adapt to climate change.
4. Strengthen forest monitoring and law enforcement by training individuals to monitor their forests using mobile, cloud, and satellite technologies. This will allow for more efficient data records of wildlife presence, illegal human activities, and threats within the target landscape.
Through the Wildlife Habitat & Corridor Restoration Project, a total of three million seedlings will be planted, 700 households will be trained and supported to apply sustainable agroforestry practices on their land, and each village in the project area will have at least one trained individual on forest monitoring.
Critical in achieving lasting conservation outcomes is the need to balance conservation objectives and socio-economic needs. Accordingly, this project will continue to support over 3,500 households in sustainable livelihoods through: smoke-free and more efficient wood-burning stoves, improved agricultural practices, establishing community-managed enterprises and microcredit programs, and sustainable production techniques that increase incomes while protecting forests. It will also establish Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) groups in order to monitor forests, and will protect watersheds to improve groundwater recharge that feed wells and streams for wildlife and people alike.
The restoration project in the Albertine Rift Forest will formally begin in 2020 and take place through 2023.
Credit © the Jane Goodall Institute/ By Jane Goodall
About the Jane Goodall Institute
The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is a global, community-centered conservation organization founded in 1977 that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall in over 23 countries around the world. They aim to understand and protect chimpanzees, other apes and their habitats, and empower people to be compassionate citizens in order to inspire conservation of the natural world we all share. JGI uses research, collaboration with local communities, best-in-class animal welfare standards, and the innovative use of science and technology to inspire hope and transform it into action for the common good. Through their Roots & Shoots program for young people of all ages, now active in over 65 countries around the world, JGI is creating an informed and compassionate critical mass of people who will help to create a better world for people, other animals and our shared environment.
We are honored to be working side by side with not only an incredible organization but also with a legendary conservationist like Jane Goodall. This project is vital for the well being of the wildlife, communities, and ecosystems in the Albertine Rift landscape. By contributing to this project, you help ensure that the ecosystem and biodiversity thrive for many years to come. We will also keep you up to date every step of the way through project updates and any stories that come up throughout this journey to restoration. Join us to plant some trees for chimpanzees!
We plant trees on 4 continents around the world. Want to choose where yours are planted?
by Diana Chaplin
Canopy Director & Eco-Storyteller
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