Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT) was established under the Uganda Trust Act in 1994, as a registered Conservation Trust Fund mandated to support conservation of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) and contribute to uplifting the livelihoods of the people in communities adjacent to these national parks. It was the first Conservation Trust Fund in Africa established by Global Environment Facility (GEF) after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
The aim of BMCT is to provide long-term reliable support for projects promoting research or conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) while at the same time promoting the well-being of neighboring communities.
Core values:
In order to ensure proper and efficient running of BMCT, and attainment of its Vision & Mission, BMCT is guided by the following core values:
- Integrity: Striving to operate to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and transparency.
- Team work: Work together as a team to take advantage of BMCT strength, skills and knowledge.
- Collaboration: Develop partnerships and strategic alliances in support of the BMCT mission.
- Excellence: Pursuit to achieve excellence in all endeavors.
- Communication: Promote and encourage effective internal and external communication.
- Effectiveness: Commit to ensuring value for money in all BMCT programmes
- Innovation: Striving to maintain an innovative approach to achieving the mission, overcoming challenges and finding ways to improve.
- Consensus building: Consideration of multiple viewpoints during deliberations and integration of ideas for decision-making.
BMCT Vision, Mission and Philosophy
BMCT 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.
BMCT 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.