As a small organization with big impact, we are proud to report these meaningful achievements in 2025:
1,087
stoves built with families
12.9 M
pounds of wood saved by NNF stoves
660,000
briquettes made
60,000
pounds of charcoal saved by NNF briquettes
54,000
visits to NNF’s 6 Science Centers
3,800
participants at 6 Conservation Competitions
Efficient Stoves
NNF assisted in building 1,087 rocket stoves in 2025, the highest annual total so far, with existing stoves now saving over 12.9 million of pounds of wood yearly to protect endangered wildlife habitats while improving the health and lives of people.
This brings the 20-year total in Uganda to 7,690, saving over 102 million pounds of wood since inception – the equivalent of 102,000 50-foot trees!
Biomass Briquettes
NNF manufactured over 650,000 briquettes in 2025, providing an alternative to deforestation for cooking fuel and replacing over 60,000 pounds of natural charcoal. Over $2,300 of this “eco-char” was sold around Kibale.
The briquettes do more than cook meals – they restore forests. In 2025, we reimagined our formula by utilizing carbonized Acanthus pubescens, an invasive plant being removed from Kibale. This innovative fuel replaces natural charcoal, reduces pressure on forests and helps native ecosystems recover. Kibale Kuchumbricks, a women’s co-op, made over 25,000 of their own firewood alternative briquettes.
In total, this makes 5,682,888 briquettes produced since 2011!
Education
NNF’s six Science Centers hosted nearly 54,000 visitors in 2025. The 16th annual Conservation Competitions energized over 3,800 attendees in six locations around Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Using the theme “Save the Earth, Save Ourselves,” communities came together for a high-energy day of games, hands-on challenges and creativity – capped off with an efficient bean cook-off, recycled fashion show, traditional dance and poetry celebrating conservation in action.
Including staff & community workshops and Earth Day celebrations, the 20 year total of NNF’s educational interactions is now more than 662,800.
Traditional Song & Dance
Outreach
Recycled Fashion
20 Years of New Nature
In 2006, under the umbrella of the Chimp-n-Sea Wildlife Conservation Fund, Rebecca and Michael moved to Uganda to conserve Kibale. With Margaret Kemigisa, they set out to help keep the rain forest intact with fuel efficient stoves, tree planting and entertaining education!
After gaining permission to display natural artifacts from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and securing full funding from the Great Ape Trust of Iowa, we were proud to open the first Kibale Science Center, just one kilometer from the border of the National Park. More than 50 invited guests witnessed Chief Park Warden Charles Tumwesigye cut the opening ribbon on October 7th, and more than 300 village citizens experienced the center on its first full day of operation, Ugandan Independence Day, October 9th.
20 Years later, NNF is still proving to be a force for change. We celebrate this milestone and the growth the organization has achieved by comparing our productivity in 2006 vs 2025:
132
stoves built
1st year
1,087
stoves built
year 20
0.5M
lbs wood saved
1st year
12.4M
lbs wood saved
year 20
5,752
Science Center
visits 1st year
53,861
Science Center
visits year 20
7,690
Rocket Stoves since inception
102
Million lbs of wood saved
662,8000
Educational Interactions
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Contact us
1310 North 24th Street Philadelphia, PA 19121
(610) 551-0332
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The New Nature Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit in the United States. To the fullest extent allowable by law, your gift is tax deductible. For tax purposes, our EIN is 06-1673754. Please donate now.