Thriving Nature
Tree growing, wetland awareness, school greening and long-term ecosystem stewardship—with survival monitoring, not just planting.
Explore →The Five Roots Foundation
Five roots. One future.
A youth-inspired, community-rooted conservation movement restoring ecosystems and growing hope across Uganda.
Founding story
Born from a child’s call to protect what was lost
“Something needed to be done.”
In 2024, at just 10 years old, Talia Birungi Kandole watched a small forest and wetland near her home—once alive with monkeys, birds and play—disappear beneath an apartment block. With her siblings and neighbourhood friends, she wrote a letter calling for wildlife and environmental protection.
That moment grew into the 1 Million Trees Planting Campaign and now The Five Roots Foundation: a platform where children lead, communities steward, and nature recovers.
Read the full story →Purpose
Vision & mission
We empower children, youth, women and communities to regenerate ecosystems and build nature-positive livelihoods.
Vision
Regeneration led by the next generation
A Uganda where children, youth and communities lead the regeneration of ecosystems, protect biodiversity and build resilient livelihoods rooted in identity, stewardship and hope.
Mission
Practical climate action, locally rooted
To empower children, youth, women and communities to regenerate ecosystems and improve livelihoods through conservation-driven education, practical climate action, sustainable tourism, resilient food systems and locally rooted solutions.
Our model
The five programme roots
Five strategic pillars guide everything we plan, fund and deliver—from tree growing to youth leadership and green livelihoods.
Young Leaders
Climate ambassadors, school clubs, camps and storytelling that turn children and youth into confident conservation leaders.
Explore →Wildlife & Coexistence
Biodiversity education and peaceful human–wildlife coexistence in communities around conservation landscapes.
Explore →Green Livelihoods
Nature-positive enterprises, sustainable tourism exposure and resilient food systems that reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems.
Explore →Education & Identity
Campaigns, forums and cultural identity that inspire wider action for forests, wetlands and wildlife across Uganda.
Explore →What holds us together
Five values. One movement.
Hope
Damaged ecosystems and discouraged communities can recover through action.
Learning
We learn by doing, observing, restoring and sharing—together.
Stewardship
People take responsibility for the natural systems that sustain them.
Love
Care for nature, wildlife, community and future generations.
Identity
Conservation linked to culture, belonging and pride in Uganda’s heritage.
Momentum
From campaign to lasting stewardship
The 1 Million Trees Planting Campaign, launched April 2025, has already mobilised partners and planted more than 510,000 trees. Our 2026–2030 strategy shifts the focus from planting alone to growing, monitoring and community ownership.
510k+
Trees planted between April 2025 and March 2026
1M
Trees grown and survival-tracked by 2030
250
Schools or youth groups engaged by 2030
Where we work
Western Uganda & the Albertine Rift
We start deep before expanding wide—building proof of concept in landscapes of high biodiversity, tourism value and community dependence on nature.
Early focus districts include Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Kikuube and Kasese, with communities linked to Kibale National Park and Bugoma Forest Reserve.
Geographical roadmap →
Grow with us
Rooted in children. Growing for nature.
Schools, conservation partners, tourism actors and supporters—help us restore ecosystems and raise a generation of young stewards.