In 2025, World Land Trust (WLT) is partnering with Environmental Defenders to purchase 838 hectares (2,070 acres) within Uganda’s Albertine Rift region, protecting highly threatened and precious wildlife for generations to come. Credit: Anthony Trivet/Unsplash.
Expanding the Nyamukino Reserve
Our new Buy an Acre project will support Environmental Defenders to expand their existing 210-hectare (519-acre) Nyamukino Reserve by an additional 838 hectares (2,070 acres). This reserve expansion will offer vital protection for an array of precious and highly threatened species, including the Critically Endangered Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli) and Endangered Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum).
This new project marks a major development for the Nyamukino Reserve, which WLT helped Environmental Defenders to establish in 2022. Located within the Albertine Rift Biodiversity Hotspot and Global Ecoregion, this reserve is home to a wealth of habitats – savannah grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands, but – without protection – faced conversion to farming, logging, and exploration for minerals, oil, and gas.
The Nyamukino Reserve contains a wealth of habitat types including savannah grassland, woodland, and wetland. Credit: Environmental Defenders.
A critical wildlife corridor
The sites for expansion are also strategically located to create a continuous wildlife corridor between Murchison Falls National Park, Aswa Lolim Conservancy, and the East Madi Wildlife Sanctuary. By connecting these habitats together, the reserve will play a key role in securing the long-term protection of the region’s wildlife, allowing the free movement of iconic species, such as the Endangered African Savannah Elephant (Loxodonta africana).
By creating a continuous wildlife corridor between Murchison Falls National Park, the Aswa Lolim Conservancy, and the East Madi Wildlife Sanctuary, the Nyamukino Reserve’s expansion will help secure a bright future for many iconic species. Credit: Mercy Kariuki/WLT.
Restoring degraded habitats
In addition to land purchase, WLT funding will support restoration of the degraded areas through the planting of 144,000 native trees as well as assisting natural regeneration. On top of this, one local community member will be recruited to support reserve patrols and partner project management costs. This follows previous support from WLT which has enabled Environmental Defenders to employ local community members as reserve rangers, and in fire prevention and seed collection.
Seedlings of African Mahogany (Afzelia africana) ready to be planted out by Environmental Defenders’ restoration team. Credit: Environmental Defenders.
We are delighted about this new addition to the Buy an Acre programme – a project which will deliver real and tangible impacts on the ground in Uganda, protecting highly threatened and precious wildlife for generations to come. If you would like to find out more about our Buy an Acre programme and how you can help these efforts, please click here.
