How do you protect the bird that wears a golden crown—the living emblem of Uganda herself—when the very wetlands she calls home are disappearing, farmers are poisoning birds out of desperation, new power lines are cutting through crane flyways, and communities cannot choose conservation over survival?

On 5th June 2026, the International Crane Foundation partnered with the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and other stakeholders to commemorate World Environment Day at Lusaka National Park in Lusaka under the national theme, “Accelerating Zambia’s Climate Action for Green Growth and Sustainability.”

Zambia has taken a major step toward securing the future of the Kafue Flats, one of the country’s most important ecosystems, with the launch of seven General Management Plans for protected areas by the former Minister of Tourism, Mr. Rodney Sikumba.

For the last few years, we have been receiving reports of a lone Wattled Crane among Blue Cranes in Mpumalanga province, eastern South Africa. Never in our wildest dreams did we think a Wattled crane would pair up with a Blue Crane, but the inevitable happened.

How do you secure Rwanda’s beloved Grey Crowned Cranes and other threatened wildlife that depend on healthy wetlands and agricultural landscapes for their survival?

The Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, the International Crane Foundation and WWF Zambia, has launched a five-year US$9 million Global Environment Facility (GEF) Kafue Flats Project aimed at restoring the Kafue Flats ecosystem, and securing wildlife habitat and species, while improving livelihoods, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting sustainable development for communities across the wetland landscape.

The International Crane Foundation today officially opened its Nairobi office, marking an important milestone in strengthening science-driven conservation, wetlands protection, and community-led environmental initiatives across East Africa.

Hosted by the International Crane Foundation, Uganda’s crane festival brought together Uganda government officials, conservation scientists, traditional clan leaders, and local communities to highlight the role of science, culture, and accountability in conserving wetlands.

The International Crane Foundation in Africa calls for governments, organisations, and individuals to work alongside traditional custodians to restore wetlands for a secure future of cranes and people ahead of World Wetlands Day to be celebrated on 2nd February under the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.”