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Climate resilience • Nature-based solutions

Water, Natural Resources & Environmental Management (WANEMA)

Protecting watersheds, restoring native vegetation and helping communities in Kasese manage climate risks through practical, inclusive environmental action.

Catchment restorationSmart agroforestryDigital inclusionLandslide risk reduction
Environmental conservation and climate action in Uganda
Karucan Foundation Programme

Healthy ecosystems, stronger communities

WANEMA connects ecosystem protection with livelihoods and local leadership. Its work includes freshwater and catchment management, indigenous tree planting, sustainable land use, pollution prevention, climate adaptation, disaster-risk reduction and sustainable green livelihoods.

Project documents describe initiatives delivered in Kasese District across the River Nyamwamba catchment and vulnerable montane slopes. The summaries below highlight the purpose, approach and key targets reported in three project proposals.

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Featured environmental projects

From riverbank restoration to digital climate resilience

Three connected initiatives combine nature-based solutions, community governance and practical technology to address environmental challenges in Kasese.

Riverbank restoration work along the Nyamwamba River in western Uganda
2020–2021 • River Nyamwamba Basin

Community-Led Catchment Stabilization & Indigenous Forest Reforestation

Focused on restoring degraded riverbanks and strengthening community stewardship in vulnerable areas of Kasese District.

120 hariverbank restoration target
132,000indigenous seedlings planned for planting
3community-managed nurseries
5Catchment Management Committees
  • Restore riparian buffer areas with locally appropriate native tree species.
  • Support community nurseries, boundary mapping and practical conservation training.
  • Promote women’s and youth participation in catchment decision-making.

Proposal funding listed: USD 125,000 through the KDLG–WWF Partnership Fund.

Farmers planting trees as part of an agroforestry initiative in Uganda
2022–2023 • Smallholder cooperatives

Digital Transition & Smart-Agroforestry Integration

Combined climate-smart farming with digital financial inclusion to help mountainous smallholder cooperatives strengthen livelihoods and invest in land care.

10Village Savings and Loan Associations targeted for digital records
320farmers targeted for training
150women included in the training target
USD 85,000proposal grant value
  • Introduce secure digital/mobile-money ledger systems for savings groups.
  • Train cooperative members in digital record-keeping and digital asset security.
  • Link financial inclusion with agroforestry, seedling care and sustainable slope management.

Proposal funding listed through the KDLG–CSO UNDP Partnership Fund.

Community tree planting and landscape restoration in Uganda
June 2023–June 2024 • Montane slopes

Decentralized Montane Slope Governance & Community Landslide Risk Mitigation

Focused on locally led slope-risk monitoring, landscape stabilization and stronger parish-level environmental governance.

150 hahigh-risk slopes targeted for mapping and stabilization
85,000indigenous and soil-binding seedlings
8Parish Environmental Protection Committees
2local conservation guidelines targeted
  • Map vulnerable slopes with community participation and GIS-supported tools.
  • Establish nurseries and promote agroforestry on at-risk farmland.
  • Train local committees and support inclusive, locally adopted conservation guidance.

Proposal lists USD 50,000 from the KDLG–GET Partnership Fund and a total operational envelope of USD 85,000 including co-financing.

How the projects work together

The three initiatives share a community-led approach: restore natural systems, improve local environmental governance and strengthen the ability of households to manage climate-related risks.

Restore nature

Protect riverbanks and vulnerable slopes through indigenous trees, community nurseries, agroforestry and sustainable land-use practices.

Build local leadership

Support catchment and parish-level committees, practical training and meaningful participation by women and young people.

Use technology where it helps

Apply digital financial records and GIS-supported mapping to improve transparency, planning and community-led environmental action.

Environmental action in the field

Karucan’s existing project gallery includes images related to tree planting, agriculture, water and climate action.

Community members holding a tree seedling in UgandaRiverbank restoration along the Nyamwamba RiverA farmer tending a seedling as part of agroforestry in UgandaCommunity members planting seedlings on a green hillside in Uganda

Interested in working together?

Contact Karucan Foundation to discuss collaboration, community participation or support for environmental resilience in Kasese.

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