As world marks Nature Conservation Day, ECOTRUST looks back to 27 remarkable years
As the world observes Nature Conservation Day, the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) highlights its 27-year effort to combat deforestation. The organization uses market-based carbon financing to incentivize smallholder farmers to restore native forests.
Why it matters
It showcases a sustainable model for environmental conservation that aligns economic incentives with ecological restoration in developing nations.
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World Nature Conservation Day stands as a critical global reminder that the finite natural resources that keep our world in balance, our air, water, soil, forests, wetlands, and wildlife, demand our careful, collective stewardship.
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda is currently facing a severe deforestation crisis, losing 23% of its tree cover between 2000 and 2020. Because the country’s economy relies heavily on small-scale farming, this forest loss is largely driven by expanding agricultural land, alongside logging and fossil fuel extraction.
This crisis reflects a harsh global reality. In 2025 alone, the planet lost about 4.3 million hectares of tropical rainforest. This continuous loss is worsening the global climate crisis, leading to more frequent and severe fires, floods, and droughts that directly impact local communities.
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