Ugandans plant trees near national park to keep people out of gorillas’ habitat

Communities near Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are planting trees for medicine, firewood and crafts along the park's edge, aiming to reduce pressure on habitat used by roughly 450 mountain gorillas, about half the world's remaining population.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority distributes seedlings, and organizations like Change a Life Bwindi work with the Indigenous Batwa community to select species that mirror what people might otherwise seek inside the park.

The mountain gorilla population has grown from critically endangered to endangered status, a recovery officials and conservationists partly credit to tourism revenue and community programs like this one.

The tree-planting effort has expanded into local schools and was highlighted as part of activities marking World Gorilla Day on September 24.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.