Thriving Nature & Ecosystem Restoration
Tree growing, wetland awareness, school greening and long-term stewardship.
Strategic Plan 2026–2030
Five roots. One future.
A youth-inspired and community-rooted conservation foundation for ecosystem restoration, climate action, biodiversity protection, green livelihoods and environmental education.
Founding story
Born from a child’s call to protect what was lost
“Something needed to be done.”
In 2024, at just 10 years old, Talia Birungi Kandole watched a small forest and wetland near her home—once alive with monkeys, birds and play—disappear beneath an apartment block. With her siblings Tamara, Timothy and Tabitha, and friends in the neighbourhood, she wrote a letter calling for wildlife and environmental protection.
That moment grew into the 1 Million Trees Planting Campaign, launched on 17 April 2025, and now The Five Roots Foundation: a platform where children lead, communities steward, and nature recovers.
Read the full story →Purpose
Vision & mission
We empower children, youth, women and communities to regenerate ecosystems and build nature-positive livelihoods.
Vision
Regeneration led by the next generation
A Uganda where children, youth and communities lead the regeneration of ecosystems, protect biodiversity and build resilient livelihoods rooted in identity, stewardship and hope.
Mission
Practical climate action, rooted locally
To empower children, youth, women and communities to regenerate ecosystems and improve livelihoods through conservation-driven education, practical climate action, sustainable tourism, resilient food systems and locally rooted solutions.
Programme model
The five strategic roots
Our 2026–2030 work is organised around five programme pillars—each rooted in community action and child and youth leadership.
Young Climate & Conservation Leaders
Ambassadors, school clubs, climate camps and youth storytelling.
Wildlife, Biodiversity & Peaceful Coexistence
Dialogues, habitat care and partnerships with conservation authorities.
Green Livelihoods, Tourism & Food Systems
Nature-positive enterprises that reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems.
Environmental Education, Advocacy & Identity
Storytelling, public campaigns and the Children for Nature Forum.
Culture
Five values that hold us together
Hope
Damaged ecosystems and discouraged communities can recover through practical action.
Learning
Children, youth and communities learn by doing, observing, restoring and sharing.
Stewardship
People take responsibility for the natural systems that sustain them.
Love
Care for nature, wildlife, community and future generations.
Identity
Conservation linked to culture, home, belonging and pride in Uganda’s heritage.
Momentum
From planting to growing
The 1 Million Trees Campaign has already mobilised partners and communities. Our Strategic Plan shifts the emphasis from planting alone to tree growing, survival monitoring and long-term stewardship.
510,000+
Trees planted between April 2025 and March 2026 through early partnerships.
1,000,000
Trees to be grown and survival-tracked cumulatively by 2030.
250
Schools or youth groups engaged in conservation action by 2030.
Where we begin
Western Uganda & the Albertine Rift
We start deep before expanding wide—beginning in western Uganda, especially Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Kikuube, Kasese and communities linked to Kibale National Park and Bugoma Forest Reserve.
- 2026 3–5 pilot schools or community sites in one or two priority districts.
- 2027 Consolidate quality, tracking and local ownership within initial districts.
- 2028–2030 Scale proven models, then mature the district approach for the next strategy.
In the field
Diverse communities, shared roots
From school clubs and refugee settlements to corporate partners and international guests—moments that show how wide our engagements reach across Uganda.
Get involved
Grow with us
Schools, conservation actors, tourism partners, companies and individual supporters can help children and communities restore the ecosystems that sustain them.