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Valuing Uganda's Forests: How much are tropical forests worth? While it is acknowledged that people living around or within tropical forests use the forest and derive benefits from the forest, in most countries in Africa tropical forest is seen as a free resource for the Government to do with as it wants. Much of the focus of International AID is aiming to alleviate poverty yet few AID agencies realise how natural forests are contributing to poverty alleviation. WCS worked with the Uganda National Forest Authority to put a value on natural forests, calculating that in Uganda forest contribute $350 million dollars each year to the country.

Socioeconomic surveys in Central Albertine Rift: WCS worked with the International Gorilla Conservation Programme and CARE International to undertake a baseline socioeconomic survey of people living within 10km of protected areas within the Central Albertine Rift. This part of the Rift includes the areas with gorillas (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Virunga Volocanoes) and the Nyungwe National Park in southwest Rwanda. The information collected provides a better understanding of the poverty levels and livelihood security of people in this region and their attitudes towards conservation.

Biodiversity Survey of the Virunga Volcanoes: The Virunga Volcanoes are best known for their mountain gorilla population and the work of Dian Fossey. Over 30 years of research has focused on this species, yet little is known about other species in the massif. WCS worked with the Karisoke Research Centre to survey the Virunga Volcanoes for plants and birds to identify key areas for the conservation within the Volcanoes.