AWF 2006 Annual Report
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2006 annual report 1 9 6 1 • forty-fifth anniversary • 2 0 0 6 c o n t e n t s 2 Letter from the President/CEO & Vice President for Program 3 Letter from the Chair of the Board 4 The African Heartlands 8 Landscape Conservation 14 Species Conservation c e l e b r a t e 20 Conservation Enterprise 26 Conservation Leadership 32 Shaping Policy the most spectacular wildlife on earth, 34 Conservation Partners 36 Public Education & Outreach 38 Campaign for the African Heartlands the vast landscapes that sustain them, 40 Financial Resources for Conservation 42 Funding & Financial Overview 44 With Much Gratitude: AWF Donors and the people who aspire to fulfill the promise that is a f r i c a holley; s . r a.net. C ri F ers, © Craig C an d .eyesona www hants, © james Weis/ P le e Front Cover Photo Credits: Washington Safari Club’s AWF’s first project is First class graduates AWF research grant AWF unveils “Give a Lion AWF helps found the AWF begins long-term AWF establishes the Conservation Committee to help establish the from the College finances the Serengeti a Home” ad; proceeds Wildlife Clubs of Kenya support of Cynthia Mountain Gorilla Project creates the African College of African of African Wildlife Research Institute used to enlarge two to educate youth about Moss’s Elephant in Rwanda to help Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Management in Management in Mweka African parks the environment and Research Project; protect gorillas (originally called Mweka, Tanzania conservation population grows from the African Wildlife AWF finances first 400 to 1,000+ elephants Leadership Foundation) all-Swahili wildlife in next 20 years newspaper, “Urithi Wetu,” or “Our Heritage” 1961 1962 1965 1967 1968 1970 1975 1978 b o a r d o f t’s late on a Friday afternoon. Soon the sun will touch the tops of the trees forming a canopy above our t r u s t e e s Iheads. The two of us are in a huge canoe hewn from the trunk of a single massive tree, traveling slowly down AWF’s 45 years of leadership in African conservation Mr. Dennis J. Keller, Chair one of the large, broad tributaries of the Congo River. We is a remarkable achievement—but I’m convinced that Mr. Matthew T. Weir, Vice Chair have been out of cell phone range for some time now. Our Ms. Wariara Mbugua, Secretary our greatest celebrations lie ahead. To that end, we are minds are cleared of external distractions. Mrs. Crandall C. Bowles,Treasurer engaged in a comprehensive campaign that will allow us As the trees and villages go by, we are deep in conver- to bring significantly greater resources to bear. Mr. Edward M. Armfield, Jr. sation, taking stock, reflecting on the last five years. We each took up our present posts during In our three-year campaign, we seek to raise $65 Mr. Robin Berkeley the celebration of AWF’s 40th anniversary. Time has gone by quickly. What have we achieved? Mrs. Wendy M. Breck million from individuals, corporations and private foun- We believe that we have re-engineered AWF into an organization much more likely to Mr. Jacques J. Busquet dations—resources that will be enhanced by an additional deliver on the ambitious mission of ensuring a future for Africa’s wildlife and wild lands. Mr. Paul Campbell $35 million in grants from governments over the same period of time. Mr. Stephen D. Cashin We believe we have found ways to live much more fully AWF’s core values of being a truly When successful, this campaign will raise a total of $100 million, Mr. Dale F. (Tucker) Dorn Africa-driven organization, and of being an organization that has always seen the well-being of Dr. James L. Foght enabling AWF to expand the conservation efforts by 50 percent. Africa’s people as an inseparable part of its mission. Ms. Leila S. Green I can’t tell you how critical these funds are for AWF’s mission. We believe we have designed and rolled out a well-conceived and scientifically-based Ms. Christine F. Hemrick A tremendous change is taking place in how conservation is done, and Mr. William S. Kalema conservation program in the African Heartlands that can create an enduring future for wildlife AWF is at the vanguard. We have learned what works, and in many Mr. Walter Kansteiner in places where it would otherwise surely be lost. Mr. Robert E. King areas we lead the world. But we urgently need to do much more of it, We feel good about what has been achieved, but we have not delivered the real prize yet. Mr. Mark D. Kvamme in more places—because every year that we wait, it gets harder to do! Our challenge is to focus on those bold priority actions that will determine the fate of these Mr. James Makawa I urge you to join me in supporting the African Wildlife Foun- Sir Ketumile Masire great conservation landscapes. dation’s fundraising campaign by contacting Gregg Mitchell, Vice Anne B. Mize, Ph.D. Many of you, our partners and supporters, have been with us on this journey and we would Benjamin W. Mkapa President for Development and Communications, in our Washington, like to thank you immensely. There is plenty of room in the canoe that is AWF—and we invite Mrs. Eleanor G. Nalle D.C. office. I can’t think of any other way that your gift could be you to continue to travel with us as we pursue our mission to conserve Africa’s great Heartlands. Dr. Mamphela A. Ramphele more leveraged, and do more good for the survival of Africa’s wildlife Ms. Tia N. Roddy and the prosperity of its people. Mr. Paul A. Schosberg Ms. Lisa M. Stevens Mr. David Thomson Mr. C. Bowdoin Train Mr. John Walter Patrick J. Bergin, Ph.D. Helen W. Gichohi, Ph.D. Mr. Richard Weening President & CEO Vice President for Program Dennis Keller TRUSTEE EMERITI Chair, Board of Trustees Mr. Arthur W. Arundel Mr. E. U. Curtis Bohlen Dr. David Challinor Mrs. Joan Donner Mr. John H. Heminway Mr. George C. Hixon Mr. Richard M. Jackson Mr. Henry P. McIntosh IV Mrs. Sally Pingree Mr. Stuart T. Saunders, Jr. Mr. Russell E. Train North Yemen bars AWF begins AWF launches AWF proposes the Ivory International Gorilla Conservation The Charlotte Conservation Fellowship AWF marks a new era legal import of rhino collaborating with “Save the Elephants” Ban as an emergency Programme (IGCP) is launched by AWF, Program honoring Charlotte Kidder Ramsey in African conservation horns after diplomatic Tanzania National Parks campaign, and measure to end elephant Fauna and Flora International and the World is established to help develop conservation with its African intervention by AWF and (TANAPA) to develop 1988 is designated the poaching Wide Fund for Nature leaders through advanced training Heartlands Program to partners and apply principles of “Year of the protect large landscapes community conservation Elephant” The African elephant AWF starts its Neighbours as Partners In the face of civil war in Rwanda, many aid of exceptional natural is elevated to “most Program which pioneered community workers depart—but IGCP personnel remain value endangered” category conservation around national parks in East to protect Virunga’s mountain gorillas; no by Convention on and Central Africa gorillas are killed in 1996 and at least nine International Trade in babies are born Endangered Species (CITES) 1982 1985 1988 1989 1990 1996 1998 a.net a.net C C ri ri 1.0713 F F e .eyesona .eyesona CC i www www holley holley holley holley s s s s . r r r r ark Boulton ohn Watkins/ j m the© african© Craig © h© james Weis/ eartlands© Craig © Craig © Craig © james Weis/ t’s no wonder the world loves to celebrate Africa. We all AWF has identified these landscapes, and we call them the carry a piece of Africa in our hearts. “African Heartlands.” I Africa was the first place on earth where human beings Far larger than any park or reserve, an African Heartland told stories by firelight and lifted their voices in song. It is the combines national parks and local villages, government lands and last place where megafauna roam in vast herds across unfettered private lands into a large, cohesive conservation landscape that landscapes. often spans international boundaries. But while all of Africa is extraordinary, certain key land- In an African Heartland, 45 years of conservation leadership scapes are absolutely essential to conservation—thanks to their reach their highest expression. To all the scientists, strategists, partners unmatched concentrations of wildlife, and their potential to and supporters who have been part of this remarkable story, we send sustain viable populations for centuries to come. our thanks. There would be nothing to celebrate without you. Partnership Options AWF’s work expands into Dr. Patrick J. Bergin is AWF identifies the new New world-class Visitor African wild dog research is in full swing Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for Resource-Use southern Africa with appointed to the position Congo heartland in the Centers open at Lake in the Samburu Heartland, Kenya opens new Vistor Center Innovation (PORI), the implementation of President and Chief Democratic Republic Manyara National Park a USAID-supported of African Heartlands Executive Officer of AWF of Congo, brightening and Tarangire National AWF partners with Starbucks to link better Congo Shipping Project makes first voyage project designed to help Program in Zimbabwe, the future of species Park, Tanzania coffee quality and improved livelihoods for up and down the Congo and Maringa develop community- South Africa, Zambia Tanzania’s President including the bonobo growers with natural resource conservation Rivers, opening up markets for remote based wildlife and Botswana Mkapa declares that the and Congo