Uganda’s conservation success showcased at COP29 in Baku
Uganda’s innovative conservation strategies took center stage at the ongoing Conference of Parties (CoP) in Baku on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
The Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Mr. Samuel John Mwandha, presented the country’s groundbreaking use of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to address ecological and economic challenges during a high-profile panel session.
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The session, titled “Use of Nature to Protect Nature: Nature-Based Solutions for Eco-Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Eco-Tourism, and Blue Economy,” highlighted Uganda’s role in reversing the decline of mountain gorilla populations through regional collaboration and sustainable conservation models.
Speaking to a global audience, Mr. Mwandha underscored the critical role of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC)—a partnership among Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He detailed how this tri-national initiative turned the mountain gorilla population from a dire count of less than 400 in 1990 to over 1,063 as of the latest census in 2018.
“The collaboration between these three countries is a shining example of how borders need not divide conservation efforts but instead can unite them for shared success,” Mr. Mwandha stated.
He also spotlighted Uganda’s eco-tourism model, which has become a global benchmark for leveraging wildlife to drive conservation and community development.
Gorilla tracking and habituation programs have not only funded conservation efforts but also uplifted surrounding communities by sharing revenue from tourism activities.
“Innovative measures like stone walls, electric fences, planting tea along park boundaries, and forming Human-Gorilla Mitigation Groups (HuGo) have mitigated human-wildlife conflict, creating a harmonious coexistence between communities and gorillas,” Mr. Mwandha said.
These solutions have made eco-tourism a sustainable economic resource, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and fostering community involvement in conservation efforts.
“The success of eco-tourism shows how nature can pay for its own protection while improving livelihoods,” he added.
Uganda’s achievements were presented as a case study in how Nature-Based Solutions can address global challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change.
Mr. Mwandha emphasized the importance of integrating communities into conservation efforts to achieve lasting results.
“Conservation must go beyond protecting wildlife—it must also protect and empower the people who live alongside it,” he remarked in his closing statement.
The panel, which featured international experts including Charles Karangwa, Global Head of NbS at IUCN, and Dr. Ladislaus Kyaruzi of the Songwe River Basin Commission, called for enhanced global collaboration to scale up Nature-Based Solutions worldwide.
Uganda’s pioneering efforts in transboundary conservation and eco-tourism solidify its position as a global leader in sustainable conservation.
Through NBS, Uganda is proving that protecting nature can simultaneously protect economies and communities.
