Team

The Kibale Community Fuel Wood Project is a collaboration between Chimp-n-Sea and local communities, with working partnerships with McGill University (Canada) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Rebecca Goldstone and Michael Stern, Project Directors

Rebecca and Michael were the founders of the Kibale Forest Education Project and have also published articles about their work in the area. They have forged relationships with local schools, communities and government offices that help make the current project a success. With a combined 24 years working for conservation, they have a wide range of experience, including non-profit management, fundraising, educational outreach and professional zoo keeping. To help reduce costs, they are involved with all aspects of the project, from planting trees to running the movie projector.

Margaret Kemigisa, Project Manager

Margaret grew up in Kanyawara, Uganda, bordering Kibale National Park, and has worked toward its conservation for more than five years. She was the first woman to work as a research assistant in the area, and has also been a primary school teacher. While employed by the Jane Goodall Institute, she attended international conferences in the USA and Norway. Most recently, she has worked to expand the reach of local environmental clubs and woman's crafts groups, leading the way in her community to a sustainable and harmonious relationship with the National Park.

Benjamin Kisembo, Community Liaison and Agroforestry Consultant

Mzee Kisembo began working in Kibale in the early 1960s. He first served as a Forest Guard for the Ugandan Department of Forestry, and later took the position of Park Ranger, under the auspices of the Ugandan Wildlife Authority. After retiring in 2003, he was named an Honorary Park Warden, in recognition of his high standing in the local community. His experience and knowledge, as well as his personal commitment to growing trees at his home, are vital assets of the Kibale Community Fuel Wood Project.

Drs. Colin and Lauren Chapman, Scientific and Logistical Consultants

Drs. Colin and Lauren each hold Canada Research Chair at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and also serve on the Chimp-n-Sea Board of Advisors. With a combined 34 years of experience as researchers in and advocates for the environment around Kibale National Park, they have been major contributors to the good of the park and surrounding communities. Their numerous publications and mentorship of Ugandan and international scientists have helped to highlight Kibale’s importance for the global community, and their commitment to the region is evidenced by their strong relationships with numerous local individuals and institutions.

Dr. Sara Lourie and Mark Laxer

Founders and board members of Chimp-n-Sea Wildlife Conservation Fund, Dr. Sara Lourie and Mark Laxer apply science, education, music, and storytelling to conserve wildlife and its habitat. Sara, with degrees from Oxford and McGill University, maps the diversity of life to support conservation planning. She is an author and musician. Mark, author, storyteller, and technologist, invented vEcotourism. He also invented the Solar PC Walker while an undergraduate at the University of California, San Diego.

Emmanuel Haraka

Emmanuel was one of the star pupils who participated in the Kibale Forest Education Project, scoring higher on the evaluation quiz than anyone in his class. We were very happy to have him join the current project, where he acts as a community liaison and educator during his time off from secondary school. Emmanuel is a very interested student, and is also active in the wildlife club at his school.

Florence Kengonzi

Florence has worked as a cook in Kibale National Park for many years, but had often thought of extending into the conservation or research fields. She has recently started working as an exhibit intrepreter at the project's science center, and is doing a wonderful job educating citizens about local wildlife, home-grown trees and fuel-efficient stoves. We are very excited to be working with her.