Arizona Tribune - GRO Foundation Forms Strategic Alliance with Uganda's National Forestry Authority and Inter-Religious Council to Restore Mpanga Forest Reserve

MPIGI, UGANDA / ACCESS Newswire / April 27, 2025 / The GRO Foundation today announced a new collaboration with Uganda's National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), focused on restoring the Mpanga Central Forest Reserve while strengthening local livelihoods.

Following discussions at Mpanga, GRO Foundation confirmed the forest reserve will serve as the first location for its broader East Africa Reforestation Initiative. This ambitious effort aims to plant five million trees in 2025 and 250 million trees across the region over the next 15 years.

"Healthy forests are essential to thriving communities," said Heba Zahid, Secretary General of GRO Foundation. "Through this partnership, we are advancing a model that restores ecosystems and creates new opportunities for the people who live alongside them."

By combining the technical forestry expertise of the NFA, the trusted networks of IRCU, and GRO Foundation's integrated community development approach, the partnership seeks to reduce pressure on forest resources while expanding economic opportunities for local populations.

"Our commitment goes beyond tree planting," said Paul Flynn Mukalazi, Founder of GRO Foundation. "We are investing in generational impact by improving access to clean water, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and opening pathways to participate in carbon markets. Environmental recovery and community prosperity must advance together."

This initiative builds on an existing Memorandum of Understanding between GRO Foundation and IRCU, signed in December 2023. With a reach of more than 20 million Ugandans through faith-based institutions, IRCU is positioned to foster a culture of environmental responsibility at the community level.

Initial phases of the project will prioritize expanding tree nurseries, launching public education campaigns, and supporting income-generating activities linked to conservation. Major planting activities are scheduled to begin in September 2025.

The National Forestry Authority shared images from the recent collaboration meeting on social media, highlighting GRO Foundation's five-million-tree commitment and recognizing IRCU's vital role in mobilizing local communities.

Established in 1932, the 453-hectare Mpanga Central Forest Reserve is a vital tropical high forest ecosystem that serves as a significant water catchment area and provides habitat for diverse plant and animal species supporting research and ecotourism.

Carbon Registry Information:

For information about GRO Foundation's carbon registry projects in Uganda and Kenya, visit: https://www.carbonregistry.com/projects/bright-future-africa-93

About Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU)

The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) is a network organization that works through its leadership and structures to mobilize and organize Ugandans to promote harmony, unity, peace, prosperity, good health, and freedom for the common good.

With a mission to foster peace, reconciliation, good governance, and holistic human development through interfaith action and collaboration, IRCU advocates for the empowerment of its member bodies to advance the common good across Uganda.

About Uganda's National Forestry Authority (NFA)

The National Forestry Authority was established in 2003 under section 52 of The National Forestry and Tree Planting Act and officially launched on April 26, 2004. NFA currently manages 506 Central Forest Reserves totaling 1,265,741 hectares across Uganda, with objectives of improving forest management, expanding partnerships, supplying forest products and services, and ensuring organizational stability.

About GRO Foundation

Founded with a mission to plant one billion trees and transform one million lives across Sub-Saharan Africa, GRO Foundation is a global nonprofit delivering community-first reforestation and development programs. Through trusted partnerships with governments, faith institutions, and traditional kingdoms, GRO's model is designed to scale, bringing long-term environmental and economic solutions to regions most affected by climate change.

With active projects in Uganda, Kenya, and developing initiatives across East Africa, Indonesia, and Malaysia, GRO Foundation not only directly improves the lives of 1 million people-it is structured to positively impact more than 50 million people indirectly across Africa through clean air, water access, job creation, biodiversity restoration, and climate resilience.

GRO's approach demonstrates that poverty can be ended with sustainable climate finance rooted in trust, equity, and environmental justice.

Media Contact:

GRO Foundation Communications
[email protected]

SOURCE: GRO Foundation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

M.White--AT