On Friday last week, The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) presented its poster at the Uganda Water and Environment Week 2026 (UWEWK 2026), held at the Ministry of Water and Environment headquarters in Luzira, Kampala.
Running from 23rd to 27th March, the week was guided by the theme: “Water and Environment for an Inclusive and Prosperous Uganda.” The event brings together stakeholders from government, private sector, academia and communities to share knowledge and solutions for sustainable development.
Throughout the week, ECOTRUST also hosted an exhibition booth, where visitors learned more about the organisation’s work in conservation, climate resilience and community livelihoods.
At poster presentation, ECOTRUST showcased its work under Sub-theme 3: Ensuring environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient economies and communities, focusing on the topic: “Using Nature Credits to Address and Scale Solutions for Nature-Related Risks.”
The presentation was delivered by Jonathan Odongo- Biodiversity Programme Officer at ECOTRUST, who highlighted how nature credits are helping communities conserve biodiversity while earning an income.
“Nature credits are financial tools that reward individuals and communities for protecting biodiversity and delivering positive environmental outcomes,” he said.
He explained that ECOTRUST has implemented this model for over 26 years, working with smallholder farmers across Uganda. The approach starts with communities, who are actively involved in designing restoration plans that reflect their needs and aspirations.
Through activities such as agroforestry, forest restoration and sustainable land management, communities are restoring degraded landscapes while improving their livelihoods. Conservation outcomes are measured using scientific and community-led methods, then converted into nature credits that generate income.
“So far, this approach has supported over 52,000 smallholder farmers and restored more than 30,000 hectares under the Trees for Global Benefits programme, with additional work in forest reserves,” Jonathan added.
Beyond the poster presentation, ECOTRUST’s booth was a key attraction throughout the week. On Tuesday last week, the organisation hosted the Wambabya Tree Nature Women’s Group from Kidoma Sub-county in Kikuube District.
The group, supported by ECOTRUST, showcased a range of green businesses including bee-keeping, herbal medicine, crafts, and tree nursery development. These activities promote the sustainable use of non-timber forest products while improving household incomes.
Visitors to the booth enjoyed tasting natural forest fruits and herbs, and many purchased locally produced honey. The initiative aims to reduce pressure on forest resources in Wambabya and Bugoma Central Forest Reserves by providing alternative livelihoods.
Speaking about the impact of such initiatives, ECOTRUST Executive Director Pauline Nantongo emphasized the importance of community-driven solutions.
“Nature credits show that conservation can benefit both people and the environment when communities are fully involved and empowered,” she said.
She added that ECOTRUST’s approach combines local knowledge, innovation, and partnerships to create lasting impact.
“Our experience shows that when conservation is linked to real economic value, communities take the lead in protecting biodiversity and ensuring long-term sustainability,” Pauline noted.
The Uganda Water and Environment Week continues to serve as an important platform for sharing ideas, receiving feedback and building partnerships that support a more sustainable and climate-resilient Uganda.
