Uganda has a long history of deforestation, losing approximately 37.1% of its forest cover between 1990 and 2010, averaging 88,150 hectares per year, with an annual forest decline of 1.61% between 2010 and 2020. Between 2001 and 2020, the country lost 67,852 hectares of primary forest, a 13.3% decrease, driven largely by small-scale agriculture, charcoal production, and human settlement. Despite government interventions such as the World Bank–funded Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) project, progress has been slow due to delays, poor coordination, and underutilized funds. 

As official initiatives falter, grassroots movements are stepping in to fill the gap. One such effort is Apollo Forests, founded by Esther Ruth Mbabazi, a Ugandan documentary photographer, storyteller, and National Geographic Explorer. Inspired by her late father, Apolinali, who nurtured fruit and indigenous trees around their home, Esther launched the project in 2022 to honor his legacy and help restore Uganda’s green cover. “I wanted to do something that would honor his life and make the world a slightly better place at the same time,” she says.

Starting with a 10-acre plot in Central Uganda, Apollo Forests has planted more than 2,600 indigenous trees. The initiative is now expanding to a 20-acre site in Kigumba, Northern Uganda, an area previously stripped bare by charcoal production. In partnership with soil scientists, botanists, and researchers, the project aims to restore biodiversity, improve soil health, create local jobs, and provide environmental education for surrounding communities. 

Recently, Apollo Forests hosted an artist visit, bringing together a photographer, visual artist, and writer to explore the intersection of creativity and the environment. The project highlights how artists can deeply connect with nature and demonstrates that environmental and climate action can be both personal and generational, carrying forward values that outlive their founders.