As the discussions at the Business of Conservation Conference 2026  in Nairobi- Kenya are coming to an end, participants have been urged to embrace partnership at all levels for a bright future for conservation efforts.

The conference, held from March 4-7 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill, is organised by the African Leadership University School of Wildlife Conservation. It brings together policymakers, conservation organisations, investors, private sector leaders and community representatives to explore how conservation can become a sustainable business that benefits both the people and nature.

The conversation comes at a crucial time as biodiversity resources are disappearing at an alarming rate. Under the theme “Changing the Economics of Conservation,” the conference focuses on how Africa can build sustainable systems where conservation is not just about protecting nature but also about creating economic opportunities for communities.

The goal is to influence current leaders in politics, business, government, technology, philanthropy, media among others so that they prioritise conservation issues that threaten the quality of life for current and future generations.

Among the organisations participating is ECOTRUST, a Ugandan conservation organisation that has spent nearly three decades helping smallholder farmers turn conservation into a sustainable and viable investment option. Founded in 1999 as the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda- the organisation works in key biodiversity areas of Uganda including the Albertine Rift and Mount Elgon landscapes; supporting farmers to restore forests, protect biodiversity and improve livelihoods.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Bio credits with examples from Africa and elsewhere at the conference, Pauline Nantongo- Executive Director at ECOTRUST shared how innovative financing tools like; biodiversity credits can support both conservation and community development.

Pauline at the panel discussion on Bio-credits - BCC Nairobi

“Since we have different groups of people here, I would like to see people commit to partner with us. Partnerships should tackle the challenges that are faced on the bio credits market to make the future of conservation meaningful. I would like to see the young professionals signing up to the African Leadership University as it offers an MBA in Bio credits. I would like to see the journalists in this room committed to pursuing a career informed by bio credits.” She says.

Nantongo explained that ECOTRUST is working to change this by ensuring communities remain owners and active participants in conservation projects.

Using biodiversity credits, a new innovative PES mechanism, ECOTRUST is supporting communities to conserve and protect their forests and other natural resources while also earning income from sustainable businesses such as beekeeping, tree nurseries and other green enterprises. These activities are connected to conservation efforts that improve forest health and wildlife movement corridors.

The approach is also helping address human-wildlife conflict in areas within the Albertine Rift, where animals like; chimpanzees move between fragmented forests corridors.

Through community partnerships, ECOTRUST has been mapping wildlife movement routes and restoring forest corridor linkages that allow animals to move safely while reducing conflicts with farmers.

The organisation’s flagship Trees for Global Benefits (TGB) programme has already restored more than 30,000 hectares of land through forestry/agroforestry interventions on private land, linking farmers to the benefits from carbon markets.

According to Geoffrey Ozeera, from Tengele CLA in Masindi, a community representative working with ECOTRUST Uganda, community voices are essential in shaping the future of conservation of Uganda.

“Communities are leading the implementation of bio credits through helping in the monitoring and data collection processes. Individuals from the community are recruited to monitor the bio diversity resources for example the Bungako forest through use of different methods like the use of electronics to collect data, community groups who visit the forests monthly to watch the biodiversity.” Ozeera says.

ECOTRUST’s message remains clear: conservation can only succeed if the people who live closest to nature benefit from protecting it. The Business Conservation Conference continues to highlight similar solutions from across Africa, focusing on new partnerships, conservation finance and community-led conservation models.