Leaders and policymakers at the Business of Conservation Conference 2026 are exploring ways to transform wildlife protection into a sustainable economic engine that benefits both the environment and local communities.
The four-day event, which began on Wednesday at the Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill, is organized by the African Leadership University School of Wildlife Conservation. Under the theme “Changing the Economics of Conservation,” the gathering includes investors, private sector leaders and community representatives.
Pauline Nantongo, Executive Director of the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda, also known as ECOTRUST, spoke during an Ignite talk about the necessity of inclusive financing. She said conservation efforts often fail when they exclude the people living alongside natural resources.
Nantongo compared some current conservation monetization models to a stranger painting a homeowner’s house and then claiming the increased value of the property for themselves.
“Most of the time when we think about these very high science and tech issues, it’s difficult to see how this can be inclusive at a local community level,” Nantongo said.
Founded in 1999, ECOTRUST works in biodiversity areas such as the Albertine Rift and Mount Elgon landscapes. The organization uses biodiversity credits to support communities in protecting forests while earning income from green enterprises, including beekeeping and tree nurseries.
The group’s flagship Trees for Global Benefits program has restored more than 74,000 acres of land. This initiative links smallholder farmers to carbon markets and helps restore forest corridors for wildlife, such as chimpanzees, to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Nantongo said the goal is to ensure communities are active market actors who monitor forest health and participate in decision-making rather than being passive beneficiaries.
The conference, which concludes Saturday, continues to highlight community-led conservation models and new partnership frameworks from across Africa.