Restoring the Ecological Heart of Africa
Restoring Upemba National Park, the ecological heart of Africa, to rebuild the natural systems that sustain water, wildlife and climate.
Upemba — A Park Returning to Life
For decades, Upemba National Park was a forgotten landscape — isolated by conflict, emptied of wildlife, and left without management. Today, a dedicated team of rangers, scientists and local communities is rebuilding it from the ground up.
This film documents the early stages of that recovery — the people behind it, the ecosystems at stake, and what it means to restore one of Africa's most important ecological landscapes.
Restoring ecosystems, water systems and wildlife
Across Upemba National Park — one of the most biodiverse and neglected landscapes in Central Africa.
Ecosystem Conservation
Protecting and restoring the landscapes and water systems that sustain Upemba — a critical ecological zone at the source of the Congo Basin.
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Wildlife Restoration
Rebuilding functional wildlife populations to restore natural ecological balance. Wildlife restoration is the ecological engine of the Upemba recovery.
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Community Development
Working with local communities to support sustainable livelihoods and long-term conservation. More than two million people live around Upemba.
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Upemba National Park
A critical water and climate system at the source of the Congo Basin, where ecosystem restoration drives biodiversity and long-term ecological stability.
Working Together
Working with conservation, scientific and funding partners to restore Upemba's ecological systems.
Stories & Updates
Field reports, restoration progress and stories from the people working to restore Upemba.
From Upemba to the World: Wetlands, the Congo Basin, and the Lufira Ramsar Site
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, quietly sustaining life far beyond their shores. They regulate water cycles, store carbon, buffer floods and droughts, and provide...
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Upemba National Park Strengthens Wildlife Research with New Acoustic Monitoring Equipment
Upemba National Park has taken a major step forward in wildlife research and conservation with the receipt of new acoustic monitoring equipment dedicated to studying mammals and birds...
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Upemba Welcomes 62 New Rangers to Strengthen Conservation Efforts
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, Upemba National Park (UNP) held a landmark ceremony at its Lusinga headquarters to celebrate the graduation of 62 new rangers. After three months...
Read StoryBringing Wildlife Back to Upemba
Wildlife is the ecological engine of Upemba. Without large grazers, grasslands accumulate, fires intensify and water systems degrade. Restoring animal populations is not symbolic — it is the mechanism through which the entire landscape recovers.
Through phased rewilding, species such as zebra, buffalo and antelope are being reintroduced into recovery zones under veterinary oversight and scientific monitoring.
Support Ecosystem Restoration
Your contribution supports long-term restoration of water systems, wildlife and community resilience in Upemba National Park.
Donate NowA Woman Leading Upemba
Christine “Tina” Lain leads the restoration of Upemba National Park, one of the few female directors managing a large-scale ecosystem recovery programme in Central Africa.
