In a momentous recognition of her remarkable contributions to environmental advocacy, Ugandan Veterinarian and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, has earned a coveted spot on the prestigious BBC 100 Women 2023 list. Her inclusion in the esteemed category of Climate Pioneers places her alongside influential figures such as Michelle Obama, Gloria Steinem, America Ferrera, and Amal Clooney. This accolade stands as a testament to Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka’s unwavering commitment to the intersection of conservation, public health, and environmental stewardship, making her a standout leader among women driving positive change globally.
As an award-winning Ugandan vet and conservationist, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka works to save the country’s endangered mountain gorillas, whose habitat is being eroded by climate change. Her NGO that promotes biodiversity conservation by enabling people, gorillas, and other wildlife to co-exist while improving their health and habitat. After three decades, she has helped increase the number of mountain gorillas from 300 to about 500, which was enough to downgrade them from critically endangered to endangered. Kalema-Zikusoka was named a Champion of the Earth in 2021 by the United Nations Environment Programme.
What gives me hope in the climate crisis is the increasing acknowledgement that it needs to be addressed urgently. There are innovative methods to mitigate and adapt to this crisis.
– Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
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