Climate Change Action Program
Uganda’s national parks are biodiversity hotspots, home to some of the most iconic wildlife species in Uganda, including mountain gorillas, elephants, and lions. However, these fragile ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change. This is leading to habitat loss, unpredictable weather patterns, and heightened human-wildlife conflicts. To combat these challenges, Pamoja Afya Initiative started a climate change action programs around national parks, focusing on mitigation, adaptation, and community engagement. The program is involved in carrying out the following interventions.
Community-Based Conservation and Awareness Campaigns
Pamoja Afya Initiative recognizes that Indigenous communities living near Uganda’s national parks, such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, are directly impacted by climate change. Through education and awareness campaigns, our program inform communities about the importance of protecting forests, reducing carbon footprints, and adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices.
PAI supports communities to participate in different community initiatives tree-planting drives, workshops on sustainable farming, and the establishment of eco-villages and empowering communities to participate in alternative income-generating activities such as beekeeping and eco-tourism as an alternative to poaching.
Reforestation and Habitat Restoration
Forests within and around Uganda’s national parks act as carbon sinks, absorbing greenhouse gases and stabilizing local climates. Deforestation due to agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and charcoal production has led to severe degradation of these ecosystems. Pamoja Afya Initiative emphasize large-scale reforestation projects, particularly in areas adjacent to national parks. Additionally, We mobilize communities to participate in agroforestry programs where we encourage farmers to integrate trees into their farming systems, hence promoting soil health and increasing biodiversity.
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Resource Use
Dependence on firewood and charcoal for cooking has contributed significantly to deforestation around Uganda’s protected areas. Pamoja Afya Initiative therefore promote the adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar energy, energy-saving stoves, and biogas to reduce reliance on forest resources. The program distributes fuel-efficient cookstoves and train households on their usage, cutting down firewood consumption by nearly 50%. In addition, solar-powered water pumps and lighting systems are installed in schools, health centers, and community hubs, improving the quality of life while reducing environmental degradation. These interventions not only mitigate climate change but also enhance the well-being of the surrounding communities.
Wildlife Conservation and Climate Resilience
This program involves working with local communities to protect species that are most vulnerable to climate change and to extinction. Pamoja Afya Initiative responds to human activities like poaching and charcoal burning that lead to the killing of wild animals and destroying biodiversity.
Sustainable Tourism as a Climate Solution
Tourism plays a crucial role in funding conservation efforts in Uganda’s national parks. But it must be managed sustainably to prevent negative environmental impacts. Pamoja Afya Initiative promote eco-tourism initiatives that encourage responsible travel and minimize carbon footprints.
PAI mobilizes Lodges and tour operators to adopt green practices such as using solar power. Also, banning single-use plastics, and investing in community-based tourism ventures. Furthermore, to support carbon offset programs, we mobilize tourists to contribute to tree-planting and conservation projects. These make their visits more environmentally friendly.