In south-western Uganda, local communities are collaborating with conservationists to safeguard Africa's biodiversity while creating opportunities for local people. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of Africa's most significant conservation success stories, protects nearly half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Covering approximately 331 square kilometres, the park forms part of the Bwindi-Sarambwe ecosystem, which extends into the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park's conservation efforts have been recognised as a model for sustainable development.
A 2018 census recorded 459 mountain gorillas in Bwindi, and combined with populations in the Virunga Volcanoes, the global total reached 1,063. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the species from Critically Endangered to Endangered, reflecting decades of conservation progress. A new census launched in May 2025 aims to provide updated population estimates, with results expected in 2026. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority's 2026 State of Wildlife Report, the mountain gorilla population remains stable at 459 individuals.
The economic benefits of gorilla conservation are significant, with Uganda's gorilla tourism revenue reaching nearly $28 million in the 2025/26 financial year, up from $22 million in 2023/24. Combined earnings from Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks totalled $41 million. In local currency, gorilla tourism generated Sh110 billion in 2025/26, compared with Sh86 billion in 2023/24. These revenues support conservation activities and community development initiatives.
Community engagement is central to Bwindi's conservation model. Local organisations such as Change a Life Bwindi work with the Uganda Wildlife Authority on tree-planting campaigns and environmental education. During World Gorilla Day 2025, communities planted approximately 2,000 indigenous trees and organised clean-up exercises to tackle plastic pollution. The promotion of indigenous species provides resources such as firewood and medicinal plants, helping reduce pressure on the forest and minimise habitat disturbance.
Revenue-sharing mechanisms create incentives for conservation, with $10 from each gorilla-tracking permit channelled back to local communities, which also receive 20% of park entry fees. Former poachers have become conservation advocates, monitoring illegal activities such as the use of duiker traps that can endanger gorillas. One former poacher, Philemon Mujuni, now leads a group of 128 former poachers working to protect the animals they once hunted.
The conservation programme addresses the needs of vulnerable groups, including the Batwa, an Indigenous community displaced from the forest. The Batwa have participated in consultations and benefit-sharing plans developed between 2021 and 2023. These initiatives aim to recognise their socioeconomic and cultural rights while ensuring access to conservation benefits. Six community enterprises around Bwindi have received Certified Gorilla Friendly eco-label certification, creating opportunities to access premium markets for locally produced goods and services.
Despite achievements, challenges remain, including poaching, habitat fragmentation and disease transmission. The 2025 census, which included genetic analysis conducted within the region for the first time, represents an important step in strengthening local research capacity and informing future conservation strategies. Bwindi's experience demonstrates how protecting biodiversity can support livelihoods, strengthen local participation and create economic opportunities. Sustaining these gains will require continued investment, inclusive benefit-sharing and stronger partnerships between communities, conservation authorities and development organisations.
Key points
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects nearly half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas and has become a model for sustainable development in Africa.
- The park's conservation efforts have generated significant economic benefits, with Uganda's gorilla tourism revenue reaching nearly $28 million in the 2025/26 financial year.
- Community engagement and revenue-sharing mechanisms have created incentives for conservation, with local communities benefiting from tourism revenue and participating in conservation efforts.
