Benon Bushoborozi

In the early days, Benon and four of his friends used to harvest timber from the national park, often being chased by rangers. Eventually, they decided to change course. They began planting trees using seeds they collected from the forest. Their effort didn’t go unnoticed—ECOTRUST stepped in to support them through the TGB project, and that’s when their journey towards a sustainable livelihood truly began.

Encouraged by the support, Benon mobilized his community to join tree planting efforts. He organized training sessions, aiming to involve young people and pass on knowledge to future generations. This work not only improved the environment but also brought people together and strengthened the community.

Carbon payments from the project had a direct impact on Benon’s family. He used part of the money to support his wife’s education, helping her move from Senior 3 to become a Sub-county Officer for Kiyanga. Their children have also been able to pursue their studies, breaking barriers that once seemed impossible.

Over time, Benon also took advantage of ECOTRUST’s business development trainings. He learned to make banana wine and ventured into beekeeping. He now manages 30 beehives, harvesting up to 90 liters of honey each season. These side businesses have boosted his income and complemented his conservation efforts.

With two decades of experience in tree planting, Benon is now dreaming bigger. He hopes to establish an eco-hotel in his forest to promote eco-tourism and create more income opportunities while continuing to protect the environment.

As ECOTRUST celebrates 20 years of the TGB project, Benon is full of appreciation. He’s thankful for all the support, especially the training programs like the Gender Action Learning System (GALS), which helped shape his goals and achievements. He hopes others with the same passion will get similar opportunities and encourages ECOTRUST to keep working with government bodies to promote sustainable tree farming and protect nature.