Awarded in 2025
Based in Pangere Wigwi Village, Achana Subcounty, Nebbi District, Uganda
Gaudesio Jersey Ojwiga was recognised as a 2025 Kilimo Environmental Prize laureate for his commitment to climate defense, prevention of species loss and promotion of exemplary sustainability. His work highlights the role of smallholder farmers as frontline defenders of the climate, proving that locally rooted restoration efforts are essential to achieving global environmental goals while securing dignified livelihoods for rural communities.
Community conservation practitioner and climate defender, Gaudesio's work demonstrates how small scale, locally driven restoration can contribute to global climate and biodiversity goals. In Pangere Wigwi East Village, he has established a diversified agroforestry garden on a 3 hectare plot of land, integrating fruit and non fruit trees to restore soil fertility, strengthen livelihoods and protect biodiversity in the Northern Albertine region.
His garden contains more than 2,174 trees, including 1,541 native species and 633 exotic species. This diversity is central to his restoration approach. By combining indigenous trees with productive fruit species, he rebuilds degraded land while ensuring economic returns that sustain household wellbeing. His fruit trees, notably 400 citrus trees and 115 mango trees, provide regular income and play a vital role in ensuring food security for his family and surrounding community.
Gaudesio observes a clear difference between his land and neighbouring plots that lack tree cover. His soils are more fertile, retain moisture for longer periods and produce more reliable harvests. This visible contrast has made his farm a local reference point for climate resilient land management, illustrating how trees enhance soil structure, regulate microclimates and support agricultural productivity in the face of increasing climate variability.
Beyond livelihoods, his work contributes to climate defense and biodiversity protection. By restoring tree cover on previously degraded land, he helps capture carbon, reduce erosion and create habitat for birds, insects and other species. Indigenous trees on his land support pollinators and seed dispersers, strengthening ecological functions that are essential for healthy ecosystems. In a landscape where deforestation and land fragmentation threaten wildlife, his garden acts as a small but important refuge that contributes to preventing local species loss.
Gaudesio’s vision extends beyond his household. He aspires to expand tree planting despite limited access to land and has set a long term goal of developing a small ecotourism and learning site. This site would showcase rare and indigenous tree species, allowing visitors from different areas to learn about restoration, agroforestry and sustainable land use. Such a space would promote environmental education, generate additional income and reinforce the value of conserving native biodiversity.
His work aligns with broader international commitments to ecosystem restoration, including the vision of restoring degraded land at scale and the principles of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It also reflects the spirit of the Bonn Challenge by demonstrating how farmers can restore landscapes while improving livelihoods and resilience. Gaudesio’s approach shows that ecosystem restoration is not only a technical exercise but also a pathway to social and economic justice.
