Sustainability and Responsible Travel has over the recent years gained a high mileage and at Afro-tropical Butterfly Safaris, we believe that tourism play an important role in in this through supporting local communities and building resilient economies. However, this cannot be achieved if the ecological, social and cultural aspects of the environment, people and planet are not well conserved and preserved to build synergies that contribute to the well being of communities that host us. As a stakeholder in tourism and champions of sustainability, we encourage and request that all our visitors and partners participate in our responsible travel activities aimed at conserving nature, supporting local cultures and communities, promote economic growth and financial independence, contribute to food security and climate change mitigation and adaptation in a pursuit to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) by 2030 together.
Our Projects.
Greening Our Planet (GOP).
This project is aimed at restoring the damaged forest patches of Mpanga Central Forest Reserve and also engaging local people in forest management and protection of wildlife in Mpanga Forest. We aim to re-plant 8 million indigenous trees, create links between forest components, establish tree and flower trails, teach the local people alternative sources of livelihoods to avoid the continuous relying on forests for agriculture and firewood. This means introducing land and forest friendly practices and alternative sources of livelihoods and energy.
We hope to work with local people owning satellite private forests in the area, teach them how they can manage them sustainably and at the same time earning a livelihood.
Our approach is based on the theory of change hypothesis that this combination of practical ideas and skills in forest management will effectively and efficiently reduce illegal tree felling, unsustainable harvesting of forest resources, combat climate change and environmental degradation.
Project aims and objectives
Overall goal
The project will contribute to protection of natural resources such as natural forests and other resources, minimize pollution, combat climate change and engagement of local communities in natural resource protection.
Project purpose
The project will provide guidelines to be followed while utilizing the forest, implement measure to minimize environmental pollution and provide alternative sources of livelihoods to local people who depend on natural forests for their survival – for example; allowing sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) like medicinal plants and shrubs. Through partnerships, we aim to promote stakeholder involvement and empowerment, environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, build local capacity and community development.
Project Activities
- Establishing a project base (camp site)
- Establishing a tree seedling farm (nurseries).
- Planting indigenous trees on empty (bare) hills.
- Planting of trees in gaps between forest patches.
- Establishing a butterfly (flower) garden alongside the forest.
- Establishing tree trails and identification of tree species along these trails.
- Provide commercial tree seedlings to local communities in order to establish satellite private forests.
- Set up and equip a workshop to train and skill local people in hands-on competences.
- Recruit and train workers in forest management.