What we Do

Our capacity-building work is grounded in the daily realities of the communities we serve. Instead of
one-off trainings or classroom sessions, we offer practical, hands-on learning that helps people
strengthen their forest stewardship, improve their livelihoods and deepen their connection to their
environment. Every session is shaped by community priorities, cultural knowledge and the unique needs
of Batwa families and local groups.

  1.  Indigenous Tree Propagation & Nursery Management
    CRU-Africa has built strong skills among Batwa and non-Batwa communities in indigenous tree propagation, seedling care and nursery management. Community members were trained in propagation techniques, nursery hygiene, watering schedules, and how to identify healthy seedlings. Through these
    trainings, they established and now manage thriving nursery beds in Nyanamo and Rubuguri. Together, they propagated over 4,600 seedlings and collected more than 1,000 wildlings from authorised areas of Bwindi, all screened and incubated by trained community teams. These nurseries now supply seedlings
    for restoration work across the region. These skills help communities run their own nurseries with confidence.

  2. Forest Restoration Skills
    Our field-based sessions cover selective weeding, pruning, enrichment planting, pocket forest maintenance and monitoring. Community groups learn how to read forest conditions, make decisions about what to remove or protect, and care for restored areas throughout the year.

  3. Sustainable Harvesting & Indigenous Knowledge
    We work with elders and women’s groups to document and teach traditional practices around herbal medicine, wild foods and careful harvesting. These sessions help younger community members reconnect with cultural knowledge while supporting healthier forest systems.

  4. Climate-Smart Livelihoods
    Communities are introduced to practical ways of adapting to a changing climate—energy-saving stoves, rainwater harvesting, trenching in hilly gardens, soil conservation and improved food storage. These methods reduce pressure on forests while strengthening household resilience.

  5.  Community Leadership & Group Strengthening
    We build skills in leadership, teamwork, planning and self-driven stewardship. Local groups learn how to organise activities, follow up on restoration work and make decisions confidently. This improves accountability and ensures restoration continues beyond project timelines.

How We Teach
Our model blends

  • Hands-on demonstrations
  • Follow-up visits and mentoring
  • Peer-to-peer learning
  • Practical field sessions
  • Community meetings and reflection circles

Impact So Far
Through our trainings, community members, Batwa households and partner organisations are now leading nursery work, planting seasons, pocket forest maintenance and climate-smart practices. Many participants speak more confidently about their forests, understand how restoration supports their livelihoods and have become active stewards of the land.

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