Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project, Uganda

The Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project is an afforestation project in western Uganda that aims to protect the remaining habitat of the Bulindi chimpanzees and support local village households.

See the project booklet

Project general info

Location

Hoima and Masindi Districts, western Uganda

Project goal

The project aims to plant 4.5 million trees over the next six years.

Team members

Dr Matt McLennan
Project Director Uganda

Dr Ssemahunge Moses
Senior Carbon Project Manager

Project description

The Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project is an afforestation and reforestation project in western Uganda that aims to protect the remaining habitat of the Bulindi chimpanzees, restore nature, and support local village households. The project was established in response to the urgent conservation needs in the Hoima and Masindi districts, where over 300 wild chimpanzees survive in shrinking forest fragments on agricultural land. The project is implemented together with the Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project, led by Dr Matt McLennan.

Project ID

GOLD STANDARD GS 12226

Economic benefits for local communities

The project's approach is to work with local communities and households to find sustainable solutions that will benefit both the chimpanzees and the people. The project has a positive impact on local communities by helping them conserve the forest. The project supports local households in key areas by providing training, investing in their children's education via a school sponsorship scheme, and supporting small household projects, including house construction and coffee cash-cropping. Additionally, the project constructs village boreholes, providing villagers with access to clean water. The project also provides households with energy-efficient stoves and seedlings for woodlots, which reduce pressure on remaining natural forests.

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Environmental impact through restoration

The project positively impacts the environment and chimpanzees through forest enrichment planting that replenishes the forest with natural foods for chimpanzees to reduce human-chimpanzee conflict (by reducing crop ‘raiding’ by the great apes). This also increases the natural habitat of the chimpanzees and other local wildlife, contributing to creating a healthy ecosystem.

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Project timeline

The feasibility study was finalised in Q2 2022, after which the project commenced. The first planting season was in 2023. The project has a lifetime of 41 years and aims to reforest the area over a six-year period.

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The Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project pipeline

New projects
Feasibility study
Project design
Project validation
Project implementation
Periodic verification
Project completion

The project's impact

The project fosters a symbiotic relationship between communities, chimpanzees, and the environment. By engaging with households, it conserves the forest and brings about wonderful social benefits. Education initiatives, small-scale projects, and village boreholes empower local communities by providing them with access to clean water.

The project also ensures that energy-efficient stoves are available and promotes sustainable practices, which greatly enhance the social and economic wellbeing of residents. Moreover, through forest enrichment planting and afforestation, we are able to restore natural foods for chimpanzees and effectively mitigate human-chimpanzee conflict.

See our project feature on Planet Earth III

Explore the story of the Bulindi chimpanzees in Uganda, narrated by the famous Sir David Attenborough. In this episode, Director Abigail Lees, a visionary at the BBC Natural History Unit, intricately captures the daily struggles of these chimps living in close proximity to humans, setting the stage for a transformative initiative—the Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project.

Read more about it here

Types of trees

Maesopsis eminii

Prunus africana

Cordia africana

Albizia coriaria

Markhamia lutea

Khaya senegalensis

Coffea canephora (coffee)

Irvingia gabonensis (mango)

Macadamia integrifoli (macadamia)

Our current list of species includes fruit trees, nut trees, and shade trees, with a diversity of indigenous species.

Where the project is located

Kenya Hoima and Masindi Districts, western Uganda

About this region

The project is located in the Hoima and Masindi districts of western Uganda. This area has substantial conservation value as it’s a corridor linking major chimpanzee populations in two large protected areas, the Budongo and Bugoma forests, each home to more than 500 chimpanzees. However, the small corridor forests are owned by local village households and have no formal protection. Since the 1990s, these forests have been extensively logged and converted to farmland. Habitat loss has led to escalating levels of conflict between villagers and resident chimpanzees, threatening the survival of this vital population of great apes.

Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project diaries

Read and learn about the latest updates from the local management team.

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What we will achieve with this project

4.5M

trees being planted

4.3M

tonnes CO₂ to be captured

8,290

hectares to be reforested

Find out more in the project booklet

Join us to witness the incredible transformation as we breathe new life into once barren lands. Together, we can make a lasting impact and leave a legacy of environmental stewardship for future generations.

See the project booklet

Images gallery

Project investment process

Assess your environmental footprint

The first step is to measure and understand the impact of your business and commit to environmental responsibility. By doing so, businesses benefit the planet and gain a competitive edge. We prioritise nature restoration, offering businesses a path to a greener future. With our carbon footprint calculator, you can get clarity on your business’ environmental impact.

Invest in environmental solutions

Once you've measured your impact, the next step is to offset your carbon footprint and develop strategies that leverage nature-based solutions. Carbon offsetting is about investing in positive environmental impact. Our nature-based approach ensures you contribute to tangible, nature-positive outcomes that align with your values and vision, contributing to a more sustainable world.

Report on your nature-positive impact

After you have offset your carbon footprint, you can celebrate being nature positive. You can communicate your positive impact to stakeholders. DGB can help you with your ESG reporting as well as corporate communication strategies. This isn't just about accountability and transparency; it's an opportunity to inspire others and showcase the tangible benefits of investing in nature conservation.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

In the context of international carbon markets and the Paris Agreement, Uganda currently does not have finalised national legislation corresponding with the internationally established Article 6 framework. Uganda is formulating its approach and structure for Article 6 and its broader implications.

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