Conservation in Action

Mission

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is dedicated to conserving threatened species and ecosystems in Southern Africa for the benefit of all people. The EWT was established in 1973 and fills the key niche of on-the-ground conservation action. It identifies the key factors threatening biodiversity and develops innovative methodologies and best practice guidelines to reduce these and promote harmonious co-existence and sustainable living for both people and wildlife. The EWT achieves its goals through specialist programmes, and its skilled field staff are deployed regionally and throughout Southern Africa. The EWT is a proud member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the United Nations Global Compact.

Vision

A healthy planet and an equitable world that values and sustains diversity of all life

Biodiversity conservation has, in the last decade, moved from the fringes of social priorities into the very centre of political discourse and socio-economic concern. People around the world can no longer ignore the fact that the environment in which we live underpins every single human need, demonstrated every day by both the losses of thousands of lives due to environmental disasters or the lack of access to quality resources, as well as by the dependence of millions of lives on their natural surroundings for their sustainability. It is increasingly being acknowledged that achieving the 7th Millennium Development Goal (MDG) is fundamental to achieving the others, in that it stresses the need to address the rapidly declining state of the environment as a critical component of supporting the livelihoods and health of more than two thirds of the world’s people who rely directly on their natural resources for their survival and livelihoods. The importance of the work of organisations like the EWT has therefore, never been more critical, even as it faces not only declining resources to do its work, but increasing pressure as a result of a rapidly escalating environmental crisis. The loss and degradation of South Africa’s (SA) biodiversity has serious implications for our society and economy. Natural ecosystems provide many essential services such as the provision of clean water and air, prevention of soil erosion, pollination of crops, provision of medicinal plants, nutrient cycling, provision of food and shelter; and the meeting of spiritual, cultural, aesthetic and recreational needs. Much of the economy depends heavily on biodiversity, including the fishing industry, game and livestock ranching, horticulture, ecotourism, agriculture, trade and the commercial and subsistence use of medicinal plants.

A recent estimate is that the total value added to the economy by all ecosystem services in SA, excluding the marine environment and the value generated by the extraction of water resources, is around R73 billion per annum, which is approximately 7 percent of the country’s annual gross domestic product. In addition, intact ecosystems play an important role in providing cost‐effective resilience to the impacts of climate change and extreme climate events. The overall socio‐economic well‐being of the people of SA therefore, depends on balancing development and conservation through sustainable biodiversity use, and organisations supporting and promoting this are essential to the future well-being of all of our people.

As one of SA’s leading biodiversity conservation organisations, the EWT is aware of the importance of integrating the conservation of species, habitats and ecosystem processes and it focuses much of its work on protecting both threatened species and habitats. The species on which EWT works on, act as indicators of the health of the ecosystem in which they occur. Successful conservation thus means protecting the habitats supporting species – and human beings – and in this way, the entire ecosystems, communities and socio-economic structures reap the benefits of our work.  

The EWT understands that a collaborative, cooperative, strategic and adaptive approach is required to ensure that South African and African civil societies and businesses are well prepared and effectively engaged in understanding and preserving the biodiversity. Conservation requires a holistic approach to reap true successes. Therefore, through a broad spectrum of partnerships and networks we develop innovative best practice that reduces negative environmental impacts and promotes harmonious co-existence and sustainable living for both people and the planet.

Programmes and Projects

African Crane Conservation Programme

• Karoo Crane Conservation Project;
• Drakensberg Crane Conservation Project;
• Wakkerstroom Crane Conservation Project;
• Highveld Crane Conservation Project;
• Breyton Crane and Community Project;
• North West Crane and Community Project;
• Community Projects;
• African Crane Trade Project;
• Driefontein Grasslands Crane Conservation Project;
• Uganda Crane and Wetland Conservation Project;
• Kenya Crane and Wetland Conservation Project;
• Rugezi Marsh Crane Conservation Project.

Airport Wildlife Programme

• Strategic Relationship;
• Bird Control Dog Programme;
• Wildlife Management System;

Birds of Prey Programme  

• Sasol Vulture Monitoring Project consisting of:
  • KwaZulu-Natal Vulture Project;
  • Northern Cape Vulture Project;
  • Swaziland Vulture Project.
  • Blouberg Vulture Project;
  • Potberg Vulture Project;
  • Cape Vulture Task Force;
  • Bearded Vulture Task Force.
• Kalahari Raptor Project;
• Lowveld/ Kruger National Park Large Bird Project consists of:
  • Ground Hornbill Stork Project;
  • Saddle-billed Stork Project;
  • Pel’s Fishing Owl Survey.
• Platberg Karoo Raptor Project;
• Migratory Kestrel Project;
• Urban Raptor Project;
• Urban Raptor Project;
• Anglo Coal Grass-Owl Project;
• Free State Raptor Project;
• Wonderbroom Urban Verreaux’s Eagle Project;
• Oxpecker Project.

Carnmivore Conservation Project

• KwaZulu-Natal Wild Dog Project;
• Kruger Wild Dog Project;
• Cheetah Metapopulation Project;
• Waterberg Predator Project;
• Cheetah and Leopard Trade Project;
• Kruger Western Boundary Project;
• Cheetahs in small reserves research project;
• Livestock Guarding Dogs;
• Badgers and Ho

Law and Policy Programme

• Rhino Project;
• Strengthening Compliance and Enforcement of South Africa’s environmental Governance Framework.

Source to Sea Programme

• Crocodile-Marico Catchment Conservation Project;
• Orange-Vaal Largemouth Yellowfish BMP-S;
• Dugong Emergency Protection Project.

Riverine Rabbit Programme

• The Endangered Wildlife Trust Riverine Rabbit Programme Population Demography and Research Project;
• Riverine Rabbit Programme Karoo Riverine Rehabilitation Project;
• Riverine Rabbit Programme Central Karoo Stewardship Project.

Threatened Grassland Species Programme

• Blue Swallow conservation Project;
• Oribi conservation Project;
• Sungazer Conservation Project;
• Grassland management plan development Project;
• Community conservation, education and awareness Project;
• Prevention of illegal hunting with dogs Project.

Wildlife and Energy Programme

• Eskom-EWT Strategic Partnership;
• Environmental Impact Assessments;
• Other energy and communications sectors in South Africa.

For further information on the EWT and how one can play your part in the preservation of our environment, contact the organisation.

For more about the Endangered Wildlife Trust, refer to www.ewt.org.za.