Integrated Report 2017 / 2018 ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST | Integrated Report 2017 / 2018 2 a WORD from the CEO
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INTEGRATED REPORT 2017 / 2018 ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST Protecting forever, together. General Enquiries: [T] +27 87 021 0398 [F] +27 11 608 4682 [E] [email protected] www.ewt.org.za ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST Protecting forever, together. CONTENTS Message from the Chairman ................................1 A word from the CEO ............................................3 Who we are ...........................................................5 Snapshot of this report .........................................6 The EWT Strategy .................................................7 The EWT Outlook ..................................................9 Programmes ......................................................13 Looking forward .................................................93 The voice of the EWT ..........................................95 Funding our work ...............................................99 Our passionate people ......................................102 Governance.......................................................107 Awards and achievements ...............................115 Who we work with ............................................116 Our supporters .................................................117 Board of Management ......................................121 Contact us ........................................................123 Where we work .................................................124 Spectacular Shot Our cover image, taken by Dr Antoine Marchal, is of an African Wild Dog, nicknamed Fabian. Fabian and his pack made history when the EWT reintroduced Wild Dogs into the northern Kruger National Park in July 2017, after a prolonged decline of Wild The Endangered Wildlife The Endangered Wildlife Dogs in the area. Fabian’s tracking collar allowed the EWT to closely follow the movements of these endangered animals as they Trust is a signatory to the Trust is a member of the recolonised the northern KNP with Wild Dogs. Read more about this work on page 25–30. United Nations Global International Union for Compact (UNGC) Conservation of Nature MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Conservation activities are needed now more than ever. growth forecasts being reduced on a regular basis, which But a raft of exponentially increasing commercial, political, creates extreme challenges for the NGO sector, as corporate operational and criminal obstacles continue to challenge a funding and contributions from the public become increasingly coordinated and cohesive approach of giving Mother Nature constrained. I wish to express my appreciation to the staff and the cooperation she deserves from humankind to protect our Board of Trustees of the EWT for their extraordinary efforts most valuable asset: the planet. It is time that the people of this over the period under review to ensure that the Trust continues planet develop a more active conservation culture and make to operate on a sound financial footing. The thanks on behalf this voice heard by political and commercial leaders. the organisation goes out to all of our many loyal sponsors who continue to stand by us year after year – you have been The EWT has played an active role during the past year to the cornerstone on which the Trust is built. I am grateful to engage with the appropriate authorities and remains committed welcome those individuals and organisations who have recently to continuing to play a leadership role in ensuring continuous aligned with us. Your generosity and pledges of future financial active dialogue with all parties remains a key priority. Consensus support are a great comfort, knowing we have your backing to on policy and the establishment of the required measures and continue with projects so vital to our country. controls to uphold the policy is an imperative for conservation efforts to have maximum impact. A special word of thanks to my colleagues on the Board for their selfless contributions to ensure we continue to maintain the I am pleased to report that the EWT has continued its rapid highest standards of corporate governance, sound operational utilisation and early adoption of technological capabilities, management and performance measures. within the context of an innovating world, to harness new tech for conservation efforts. A notable example is our now formally To those who share our vision, which is to be discovered and constituted and accredited drone capabilities. We have, to–date understood by reading this integrated report, your passion and only touched the tip of this iceberg and we can expect much support is the fuel of a sustainable tomorrow. innovation and practical fieldwork enhancements emanating from this field of expertise. This capability will be offered to #cooltoconserve other organisations to assist in all conservation efforts. It would be a telling figure if it was possible to account for all of the financial contributions which the corporate and NGO sectors channel into conservation each year. I am of the opinion that it would be surprisingly significant. The catalytic effect of these contributions is manifest in the strong partnerships forged between numerous organisations like the EWT, which turn money into great conservation impact. The EWT holds strong our belief in the power of partnerships, and puts this into operation on the ground through our many projects in partnership with fellow NGOs, government and the private sector across the sub–continent. Conservation requires continuous collective engagement and affirmation to maximise its effectiveness. To this end, the EWT has taken an initiative to develop a Johannesburg–based Conservation Campus to house its operations in the future. The intention of the design and future build out is to be able to accommodate an environment of Dirk Ackerman enhanced partnership by catering for the accommodation Chairman of the Board needs of other conservation initiatives and organisations. An education and training component for skills development and job creation in the “Green Economy”. We look forward to reporting on this exciting initiative more in the year that follows. There is heightened economic pressure with South African 1 ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST | Integrated Report 2017 / 2018 ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST | Integrated Report 2017 / 2018 2 A WORD FROM THE CEO From the CEO’s Desk: Reflections on 2017/8 The illegal wildlife trade is nothing new, and has appeared go to great lengths to slate alternative options. But before belief that if we teach children to conserve our wildlife, they with partners who address literacy levels, adult education, and among some of humanity’s worst traits for centuries. In 2017 we can propose conservation–oriented solutions, we need to will change the fate of doomed species in the future. Despite skills development for unemployed people. We work with law and 2018, this issue featured more strongly in the rhetoric of consider a few contributing factors, most of which have nothing decades of environmental education taking place in the enforcement agencies to enhance skills for fighting crime and politicians, global media, and the public, as we began to face whatsoever to do with the conservation sector or even what we classrooms of private and public schools, from urban centres we support those champions in the criminal justice system to the very real possibility of losing a number of species if serious do or say. to rural outposts, the future of our wildlife has never been work collaboratively, effectively and with increased knowledge. action is not taken. more bleak. We forget that children become adult humans. The EWT’s 2017/8 Integrated Report is filled with reports on 1. There are more than 7.6 billion people on the planet. This They become wealthy and desire more, or they become how our passionate staff, friends, and partners have achieved Human beings have been trading for around 300,000 years. is roughly double the number of people alive in 1970. There poorer and have fewer choices. For the rural poor, it is positive gains with measurable impact, across a diversity of Evidence from Middle Stone Age sites in southern Kenya are too many sensitivities around talking about the human possibly better to invest in education programmes that species, habitats and issues. We are continually expanding our suggests that hominins were exchanging goods with others, population. One has to tread carefully and politicians, focus on science, maths and literacy. To equip young people partnerships to embrace all the challenges facing the future as weapons uncovered at these sites are made of materials religious leaders, and social activists shy away from to become employed, economically active, and have options. of wildlife on this continent. And we have done this well. The not locally found. The ancient Grecians had Hermes as their risking their futures to ever suggest that there are too many Evidence has shown that when people are gainfully report highlights many exciting successes and remarkable god of trade and the Roman god Mercurius was their god of of us. Sociologists believe that there are not in fact too many employed, they make better life decisions, they have smaller achievements. The Trust delivers on our promises and we merchants. Given the human propensity for breaking laws as humans, and many technocentrists believe that with enough family sizes, and they invest and participate in charitable are a solid investment option for the generous sponsors who soon as they are established, one can assume that human clever technology, billions more