History
About Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust
Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT) was established in 1994 under the Uganda Trustees Laws. Its mission is to foster conservation of biodiversity of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) through investments in community development projects, grants for research and ecological monitoring, funding park management, protection and programmes that create greater conservation awareness.
It is mandated to work within a radius of two parishes surrounding Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP). This area is also known as Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA). The area of operation is located in southwestern Uganda, bordering DRC and Rwanda with operational headquarters in Kabale at Bwindi Trust House and a sub office in Kampala.
Vision
To conserve the bio-diversity and ecosystem health of Mgahinga and Bwindi protected areas in harmony with the development needs of the surrounding communities.
Mission
To foster conservation of bio-diversity in Mgahinga and Bwindi protected areas through investment in community development projects, grants for research and ecological monitoring, funding park management and protection, and programmes that create greater conservation awareness.
Philosophy
BMCT recognizes that people are an important part of any ecosystem. It further, recognizes that without healthy and economically secure communities around Bwindi and Mgahinga protected areas, the area remains under threat from grazing, hunting and such vices. In response, BMCT uses a unique approach of conservation through community development to achieve its vision. BMCT works to improve the quality of life in park surrounding communities by providing education, health services, safe water, vocational training and sustainable resource use skills in this impoverished and most densely populated region in Uganda.