Awarded in 2025
Based in Jupacinvor Jupabong Village, Panduru Chiefdom, Mahagi Territory, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Ulama was awarded the 2025 Kilimo Environmental Prize for his leadership in climate action, indigenous species conservation, livelihood security and land restoration in Panduru Chiefdom.
Conservation practitioner and community mobiliser, Ulama's work integrates reforestation, food production and economic resilience. As project manager of the Mount Akara reforestation initiative known as Environnement En Danger, and founder of his own project Tic Ku Tego, he has demonstrated how environmental protection can be combined with household wellbeing.
His work focuses on restoring degraded land through tree planting while supporting food crop cultivation and small livestock rearing to meet family and community needs. This integrated approach ensures that conservation does not come at the expense of livelihoods but instead strengthens economic security and food autonomy.
Ulama is widely respected for his ability to mobilise communities around reforestation, particularly in a context where exotic species are often favoured for short term income. He challenges this perception by promoting indigenous tree species, explaining their ecological compatibility with local farming systems and their long term benefits for soil fertility, biodiversity and climate resilience.
Through his nurseries, Ulama supplies seedlings adapted to local conditions, enabling farmers to diversify their land with species that protect ecosystems while sustaining livelihoods. His work contributes directly to species protection, reduces land degradation and strengthens community ownership of conservation efforts.
