Awarded in 2025
Based in Pajulu wi Fungu Village, Wagongo Chiefdom, Mahagi Territory, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Uwonda Sikumbili Dieudonné was recognised as a 2025 Kilimo Environmental Prize laureate for advancing land restoration, climate resilience and inclusive conservation models in Wagongo Chiefdom.
Uwonda represents a generation of rural conservation leaders whose work challenges the notion that environmental protection is only the responsibility of women and older people. In a region facing high deforestation rates, declining rainfall and shrinking biodiversity, he has developed an economic model that restores degraded hills while sustaining household livelihoods.
His work focuses on rehabilitating degraded land through tree planting and sustainable land management practices that improve soil fertility and restore water cycles. By protecting and regenerating tree cover, he contributes to stabilising rainfall patterns and reducing erosion in an area where climate stress is increasingly visible.
Uwonda’s approach demonstrates that conservation can be economically viable. By linking restoration with food production and resource management, he shows how rural households can secure income while protecting ecosystems. His work encourages broader community participation, particularly among groups traditionally excluded from conservation leadership.
