In February 2021, National Forest Authority (NFA) of Uganda allocated AVA100 hectares of degraded forestland to restore and hand it over after three years.  In April 2021, AVA received another grant from USAID through UBF to contribute towards maintaining biodiversity in and around Bugoma Central Forest Reserve (CFR). AVA restored 111.8ha of degraded forestland near Kyangwali Refugee Settlement using indigenous seedlings, and the work was finished by July 2022. AVA also distributed more than 17,000 indigenous seedlings to families living in 5 villages living along Bugoma CFR. In this project, here below are some of the achievements:

• Using indigenous species to do restoration
• In addition to buying seedlings AVA has also put in place a nursery bed with indigenous species
• In the process AVA has managed to get 13 endangered species of Bugoma CFR which have been planted in villages or in Bugoma forest in a variety of numbers
• The distribution of seedling was not limited to restoring the forest; AVA also distributed more than 17,000 seedlings to people in the 5 villages bordering with the forest; AVA also distributed mosquito repellent seedling in one village
• Using the services of people from the five villages living along the forest plus the services of refugees
• AVA managed to establish good working relationships with the communities with which they are interacting despite the sensitivities relating to ownership and use of land in the district
• The work of promoting biodiversity was not limited to the physical planting: AVA also trained community leaders in and sensitised community members about promoting and maintaining plant biodiversity.