UDPATE: Dr. Jane Goodall & JGI’s Forest “Engineer” in Uganda

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Last year, we shared a story about an incredible person named Keith Bitamazire. At the age of 24, Keith Bitamazire had an experience in Kenya that inspired him to do something about saving forests. He hated the country’s climate because it was very hot and believed it was as a result of not having enough trees. He never wanted the same to happen in Uganda, especially in the region where he would settle. Today, Keith is one of the private forest owners in Masindi, one of the Bunyoro districts that the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is working with to ensure that he keeps his forest standing. Though he holds a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and was even once a pilot, he chose a life of conservation and now owns this 85 acre Rwangara / Siiba forest. Read the whole article and find out more about his work with JGI here.

When Dr. Goodall made a trip to Uganda, she was able to meet Keith and hear more of his story. Read this exclusive piece describing her interactions with Keith and what he and others like him mean for the future of conservation.

Thoughts from Jane on JGI in Uganda

Although it is some time since I was last in Uganda, visiting our JGI projects, I want to share the experience. It was uplifting, and a real reason for hope. I was travelling with some of the JGI team, including VP of Africa Programs Tammy Palmer, Panta Kasomo, Peter Apel, Walter Innman (from Austria) and others from our team.

DSC_0069This was a rare treat for me – actually visiting our projects, rather than staying in town for meetings and talks. We were headed from Kampala (where our JGI Uganda office is located) to villages in the area of the Albertine Rift where JGI is working to link up remaining forest patches to form a corridor for the movement of chimpanzees (and other animals, of course). On the way we passed a couple of areas where swamps had been drained for development. Peter had already told me about this big problem, and how it is affecting the level of water in Lake Victoria. Because of run-off during the rains, water that used to be captured in the swamps now drains into the lake – so that the water level is rising and some beaches have already disappeared. Unfortunately, people don’t understand the extremely important function of swamps.

Because I began the trip with this rather depressing situation, the experience the following day was even more exciting. We visited several communities where JGI is working with the people. Everywhere the situation is improving and more forest is being protected. At one point we crossed a very small stream that flowed into a small lake. There was forest all around. Here we stopped – Peter showed me a weathered notice with a photograph of what the same place looked like before the villagers were persuaded to stop efforts to cultivate to allow the trees to return. The photograph shows a completely dried up and barren stretch of land. As Peter said “This proves that it really is true. Restore the forest and water can return.”

Best of all was a visit to Keith Bitamazire. We sat in his house and discussed the difficulties of saving forests in the face of shortage of land and poverty. And the need to reduce human/wildlife conflict – which not only involves bushpigs and elephants, but also monkeys and chimpanzees. He also explained about the support they are receiving from JGI.

Keith’s story and the description of JGI’s involvement in the area is given in full, with photographs, in this blog. 

Learn more about our work to save forests and improve the lives of people here.


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The Jane Goodall Institute is a global community conservation organization that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. By protecting chimpanzees and inspiring people to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, animals and the environment. Everything is connected—everyone can make a difference.

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About Author

Ashley Sullivan is the Director of Storytelling & Marketing for Communications & Partnerships at the Jane Goodall Institute USA, where she works to connect individuals with Dr. Jane Goodall's vision, and the JGI mission to create a better world for all by protecting the interconnections between people, other animals, and the environment. Ashley graduated Stony Brook University with a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology and a minor in Biology, and is pursuing a Master's of Science in Environmental Science & Policy at Johns Hopkins University with a focus on Environmental Justice. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, now a D.C. resident, she has a varied background including 10+ years of expert communications and digital marketing in the social and environmental non-profit sector. Her intersectional approach to this work has been shaped by a holistic world-view, having traveled to Madagascar and Ecuador for conservation research projects, leading communications for youth social justice filmmaking organizations, and as a part of several professional groups advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in environmental spaces including Greens REALIGN. With skills ranging from conservation fieldwork, policy and advocacy campaigns, strategic communications, art, digital media, and design, Ashley believes in sharing information to empower and in the magic of storytelling to transform hearts and minds. Through growing understanding, empathy, and justice, she is igniting positive change to create that better, more equitable world, every day.