Restoration is the sustainability frontier for people, parks, and wildlife

Many national parks are being invaded by invasive plant species – and this is the case in Uganda. These invasive plants deprive animals of habitat and food and can spread to cover huge areas of what becomes unproductive land. Unfortunately, governments do not have the funds to pay to have these plants removed. At the same time local people are often desperate for a reliable clean burning fuel source, such as charcoal (see image).

The Uganda Conservation Foundation proposes a win-win solution, where local people gain employment for removing the invasive plants, turning them into charcoal, and selling some to pay future salaries and the park gets rid of the invasive plants.