Learn about the conservation efforts at the Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project and how they are helping to protect wild chimpanzees and their habitats in Western Uganda.
The Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project is dedicated to protecting wild chimpanzees and their habitats in Western Uganda. This important population of great apes is threatened by habitat loss and human–chimpanzee conflict. The project implements a multifaceted approach that addresses both conservation and community needs. This approach helps to ensure the long-term survival of the chimpanzee population and improve the lives of local people.
One of the key conservation efforts of the project is its tree planting and forest enrichment programme. This programme aims to replenish the forest with natural foods for chimpanzees to reduce future human–chimpanzee conflict (by reducing crop ‘raiding’ by the apes). The project also implements a corridor replanting initiative, which helps to connect the remaining forest along rivers to assist with chimpanzee movement.
The project further provides energy-saving stoves to local households, which helps to reduce pressure on the remaining natural forest. This not only helps to conserve the forest but also helps local communities to save money on fuel and improve their health.
Additionally, the Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project monitors the chimpanzees on a daily basis. This allows the project team to understand how chimpanzees adjust to living around people in a fast-changing landscape and plan conservation strategies accordingly.
Overall, the Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project is making a significant impact on the conservation of wild chimpanzees and their habitats in Western Uganda. By protecting these magnificent animals, the project is also helping preserve the region's biodiversity and the ecological services that the forest provides.
