The proposed project will focus on identifying critical areas for endemic species and establish community conserved Areas as way of highlighting the connectivity among the sites and promote Teso/Karamoja region as a tourism destination; Enhance knowledge and awareness among the local communities of the potential for tourism development to create jobs, raise income, contribute to livelihoods of the people and improve their wellbeing.

This will be achieved through identifying critical areas for unique species, establish community conserved Areas (CCAs), train the guides in bird watching and tourism guiding skills; finally produce and document lessons learnt that promote the region as a tourism hub highlighting the unique features and attractions. The successful implementation of these targeted project activities may be the panacea to unlocking the tourism potential of Teso/Karamoja region especially as a birding watching treasure.

The project will build on successes of the medium size grant project COBWEB funded by GEF and over 20 years of monitoring biodiversity and community mobilisation in the region by NatureUganda.