A statement from Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa, Founder and CEO of ARCOS

Dear Members, Staff, Friends, Partners, and Supporters,

It is with a genuine feeling of gratitude and humility that I announce a landmark in the journey of the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS). The year 2025 marks 30 uninterrupted years of commitment, hard-work, passion, and dedication to environmental conservation and sustainable development. Under the theme, “30 Years of Conservation Impact: Empowering Communities, Restoring Ecosystems, Shaping a Sustainable Future,” we celebrate not only ARCOS’ achievements but also the partnerships and shared vision that have shaped and made this journey memorable.

ARCOS was founded in 1995 with a vision to find collaborative solutions to the challenges facing the extraordinary biodiversity and communities in the Albertine Rift in Albertine Rift (biogeographic region marking the western branch of the Rift Valley crossing Uganda, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania to Zambia). Over the past three decades, our coverage area has expanded to the African Great Lakes and Mountain ecosystems, while remaining aligned to our commitment to act locally but engage broadly in order to build a sustainable future for nature and people.

As we reflect on the past three decades, I am incredibly proud to stress that ARCOS, which began with a small team of just two staff in 1995, now employs over 200 full-time dedicated individuals across the region. This remarkable growth is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our entire team and partners. Collectively, we have empowered thousands of households to actively involve in conservation and other sustainable practices. Today, through our membership programme, we celebrate over 1,800 members who tirelessly share and support our vision for a sustainable future.

ARCOS’ impact has been recognized through several notable accolades. In 2012, we were honoured with the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, a testament to our innovative and impactful conservation work. In 2023, One Tree Planted celebrated ARCOS as the First and Longest-Standing Landscape Restoration Partner in Africa. Most recently, in 2024, we received the prestigious Albert Mountain Award for our impactful contributions to mountain conservation and sustainable development in Africa.

To mark this momentous occasion, we are planning a series of initiatives and events throughout the year. These include but not limited to the 30,000,000 Tree Planting Campaign across Africa, a groundbreaking effort to restore ecosystems, combat climate change, and foster sustainable livelihoods. We will also launch the ARCOS Alumni Programme, introduce a new branding strategy, and host a hackathon focused on leveraging technology to drive innovative conservation solutions. These activities reflect ARCOS’ continued dedication to advancing conservation and sustainable development on a global scale.

This 30th anniversary is not only a celebration of ARCOS’ past but also a recommitment to the future. We reaffirm our vision of healthy ecosystems that provide sustainable benefits for both nature and people. With resilience, collaboration, and determination, we will continue to empower communities, restore ecosystems, and shape a sustainable future for generations to come.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Dr. Sam KANYAMIBWA

Founder and CEO

Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS)