Awarded in 2025
Based in Abira Asabu Village, Abira Groupement, Anghal Chiefdom, Mahagi Territory, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Unega Michel was recognised as a 2025 Kilimo Environmental Prize laureate for his lifelong dedication to land stewardship, Indigenous empowerment and community based conservation. His work stands as a powerful example of how patient, locally rooted action can restore ecosystems, sustain livelihoods and uphold the rights and dignity of rural communities in the face of growing environmental and climate pressures.
Small scale farmer, livestock breeder and environmental defender, Unega's life’s work has shaped one of the most enduring examples of community led conservation in Anghal Chiefdom. For more than 60 years, he has conserved land, protected water sources and managed private and family native forests on a 25 hectare plot, demonstrating how long term stewardship rooted in Indigenous knowledge can sustain both people and ecosystems.
He integrates agroecology, food security and biodiversity conservation. Through careful protection of native tree species, particularly African mahogany and shea, Unega has restored soil fertility and created a productive landscape capable of supporting diversified farming. He explains that improved soil fertility directly translates into higher agricultural yields, enabling stable production of staple crops and improving household nutrition. This relationship between trees, soil health and food security lies at the core of his conservation approach.
Beyond his own land, Unega plays a critical role in community empowerment. He actively supports women and youth with practical skills and knowledge to lead conservation actions at village level. These efforts focus on restoring degraded ecosystems, caring for land and water sources and protecting forests that communities depend on for survival. By strengthening local leadership and collective responsibility, his work increases resilience to climate change while improving health, nutrition and social wellbeing.
Unega is deeply involved in the production and multiplication of native tree seedlings. His work in propagating African mahogany and shea trees contributes directly to livelihood security, biodiversity conservation and long term soil regeneration across the chiefdom. These species hold economic, ecological and cultural value, and their protection strengthens local economies while preserving ancestral landscapes.
His forested land has become a refuge for biodiversity. Birds have returned in significant numbers, insects and amphibians are once again present, and wildlife uses his plots as habitat and corridor. Indigenous trees on his land also provide traditional medicines that community members rely on for treatment, reinforcing the link between environmental protection and public health.
Unega’s approach is grounded in Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems that view humans as part of nature rather than separate from it. His practices promote harmony between livelihoods and ecosystems, offering an alternative to extractive land use models that degrade forests and water sources. By sharing this knowledge widely, he creates multiplier effects that extend well beyond his own land, influencing neighbouring households and future generations.
The impact of his work reaches far beyond Anghal Chiefdom. It contributes to broader conservation and climate goals by restoring degraded land, protecting water sources, enhancing biodiversity and strengthening local capacity to adapt to changing climatic conditions. His leadership shows how Indigenous stewardship, when supported and recognised, delivers durable solutions for environmental protection, food security and social justice.
