2009 - Endangered Wildlife Trust

annual conservation report of theEndangered Wildlife TrustEndangered Wildlife TrustTel: +27 11 486 1102 Fax: +27 11 486 1506www.ewt.org.za ewt@ewt.org.za2009

Message fromthe CEOMessage fromthe ChairmanWelcome to the EWT’s 2009 Conservation Report.This report details the endeavours and performance of thededicated staff of the Endangered Wildlife Trust during thecourse of the past year.The EWT continues to direct its efforts in the field towards theconservation challenges needing critical attention, adoptingthe hands-on approach of implementable actions; a modusoperandi which has been a cornerstone of the Trust’s ethos.The specialisation of the Trust’s numerous programmesrepresents thoughtful planning to match resources, bothhuman and financial, to the Trust’s strategic direction.The human community continues to show a heightenedawareness of environmental issues and the need forcommitted change in the way we interact with planetEarth. As this environmental consciousness grows, theneed for conservation organisations to measure up to thetask of increased demand for their expertise and projectmanagement capabilities will be felt. This will ensure rapidgrowth in demand for the EWT’s services and, as a result,the Board and Executive Management have embarked ona process of preparing the Trust’s underlying operationalstructures, to ensure it is able to answer the needs of thestakeholders it serves, in adopting the highest operationalefficiency and world class functions.been able to complete the year’s significant contributionto environmental protection. On behalf of the Trustees,management team and staff a heartfelt thank-you to you all.The Trust in numerous instances acts as an aggregator of theefforts of many, achieving a specific conservation goal for itsstakeholders and partners in conservation. Thank-you to ourpartners for your tireless efforts during the course of the year.We look forward to continuing our working relationships inthe years to come.The EWT is blessed with staff who are not only seasonedexperts in their fields, but display a commitment and apassion for their tasks which is the envy of many a commercialconcern. Our CEO, Yolan Friedmann, has led by example andher work ethic is an inspiration to all. Congratulations to thestaff in making such sound progress on all fronts in what was,due to the economic downturn, a difficult year.The Board and the Trustees’ responsibility is to ensurecorporate governance has been executed with 100%compliance. The diligence in the execution of all the Trust’sfunctions and responsibilities has ensured compliance withthe highest governance standards throughout.Heartfelt thanks to my colleagues on the Board. I look forwardto your continued support and wise counsel.The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s 2009 Conservation Reportdemonstrates how our Working Groups worked towardsachieving a collective set of goals, defined by the sevenStrategic Imperatives which drive our Conservation Strategy.Developed in 2008, these Strategic Imperatives define theframework in which the EWT operates and set the tone forthe work across all our programmes. As should be donewith any living strategy, we will update these annually withrefreshed objectives and targets. Measuring our progress iscritical in order to celebrate our successes and understandour shortcomings. Moreover, it allows us to take stock andreassess how we can ensure that the EWT remains relevantand effective and maintains its place among the bestconservation organisations in the region. I am thereforepleased that we can report on far more successes thanshortcomings, despite 2009 being a challenging year. Thesechallenges presented themselves in the form of not only theglobal financial crunch, but sadly, in the steady decline in thestate of the planet’s natural resources.I am immensely proud of the contribution that the EWT ismaking to conservation. However, it seems that the politicalwill to put in motion the right plans to ensure a sustainableand socially and environmentally equitable future for all, issimply lacking. Issues such as the lack of a legally bindingagreement with meaningful emission reduction targets inthe Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December2009, the ongoing development of coal mines across SouthAfrica and the illegal trade in everything from cranes andrhino horn to Wild Dogs and cycads, are worrying trendsfor a planet with little time to waste on apathy. Againstthis background, the EWT continues into its 37 th year ofConservation in Action with its focus firmly on addressingthese issues.I work with one of the strongest, most passionate anddedicated teams in the country and the staff of the EWT havedone our Board of Management, our Trustees, our partners,donors, members and friends all very proud. I am grateful towork among such inspiring people who challenge me andmotivate me every day and who demonstrate in everythingthat they do a tireless passion for the environment. Youwill no doubt pick up on this as you read the pages of thisreport which are peppered with their successes during theyear gone by. The Board of Management has also been anunfailing source of support and assistance, along with theFinance Committee and other support structures of theTrustee body. My immense gratitude is further extendedto our many partner organisations, with whom we havebrought to life visionary plans and ideas such as the firstmulti-NGO magazine in South Africa, Environment. Thisfantastic publication is the mouthpiece of conservation inthe region and is a result of our collective commitment topartnership, trust and teamwork. This trend extends into theClimate Action Partnership, the co-operative efforts of themembers of the International Union for the Conservation ofNature (IUCN) and the many other forums and joint projectsand activities which have been developed in recent yearsto ensure a greater sense of teamwork and partnershippingtowards our common goals.I am proud to work in the environmental sector, despite itschallenges and setbacks. I am proud to work with the EWT’sstaff and Trustees and I am proud to be able to present toyou what was a very good year all round for the EWT. Wecannot wage our war on environmental destruction aloneand it is therefore comforting to know that with a growingsupportbase of committed ‘greenies’, we enter 2010 with astronger team than ever.Yolan FriedmannEWT CEOI wish to compliment the administrative and governance staffon an excellent year’s work as we have an exemplary financialperformance record. The conservation staff have, as always,delivered superbly and we are all grateful for their dedicationin sometimes difficult and demanding environments.The Trust is extremely grateful to all its donors withoutwhose tremendous efforts and assistance we would not haveTo all who respect our beautiful planet, join with us in findingthe balance which will ensure sustainability for all.Dirk AckermanChairman2

Key Highlightsscarcer. The EWT-WCPG furthermore reports that predatorsremain constantly threatened due to the ignorance of somefarmers, and the resultant intolerance and environmentalmismanagement.Large carnivores are particularly vulnerable because theyoccur in low densities and are therefore heavily impactedupon when individuals are indiscriminately removedfrom an environment. This is exemplified by the CheetahAcinonyx jubatus and Leopard Panthera pardus as these twolarge carnivores still occur outside of conservation areas inSouth Africa, and therefore frequently come into contactwith humans. Density information for these two speciesthroughout South Africa is very fragmented and does notcurrently support an accurate estimate of total populationstatus and sustainable off-take. This has raised concernsamongst conservationists about the impacts of illegal tradeon Cheetah and Leopard populations, and the EWT-CCGaims to address this through a Cheetah and Leopard TradeProject, which will kick off in 2010.The EWT-CCG developed a National Conservation ActionPlan for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs Lycaon pictus in2009, which will be converted to a Biodiversity ManagementPlan for Species in 2010. This Plan will guide all futureconservation action and utilisation for the species underthe National Environmental Management BiodiversityAct, 2004 (Act 10 of 2004). The EWT-CCG was also a keystakeholder in the Cheetah Population Habitat ViabilityAssessment run by the CBSG and held in April 2009, whichfed into the National Conservation Action Plan meetingand report. The Group also began developing a draftmanagement plan for Cheetah in small fenced reserves tosupport developing the potential of using smaller areas forCheetah conservation.YellowfishThe Orange-Vaal Largemouth Yellowfish Labeobarbuskimberleyensis is a charismatic premier freshwater game fish• A National Conservation Action Plan for Cheetah and African WildDogs was developed and will be converted to a Biodiversity ManagementPlan for Species in 2010.• An assessment of the Honey Badger Project showed no change inbadger distribution. This and the lack of reports on badgers beingpersecuted by beekeepers indicates that the programme has effectivelyaddressed badger killing.• Twenty-four endangered Oribi antelope were successfully translocatedfrom areas where they were doomed, as a result of threats thatcannot be stopped, to areas where they have a much better chanceof survival.in South Africa and is classified as Near Threatened on theglobal IUCN Red List of threatened species. The populationappears to be declining, and yet the popularity of yellowfishas a targeted species for anglers continues to increase, withanglers working on methods to more effectively catchprotected Orange-Vaal Largemouth Yellowfish in the VaalRiver. Allowing anglers to sustainably use this fish canhelp its conservation, since it creates an incentive for thesector to protect the resource from which they benefit. TheEWT’s Healthy Rivers Programme (EWT-HRP) is thereforedeveloping catch and release guidelines for the species inthe Vaal River to promote sustainable angling.Riverine RabbitThe Critically Endangered Riverine Rabbit Bunolagusmonticularis, of which an estimated 1 000 individual animalsremain, is a nocturnal and very shy species, making directmonitoring very labour and time intensive. As such, only afew surveys can be conducted each year and the populationis mostly monitored indirectly in known distribution areas,through information gathered from farmers and farmworkers. Over and above habitat destruction, unnaturaldeaths appear to be caused mainly by domestic dogs,incidental gin traps and road kills. The Riverine Rabbit hasbeen identified as one of the key species for conservationin the Northern Cape. This means that more emphasisis placed on its conservation, with conservancies beingprioritised for stewardship in the Northern Cape.OribiThis specialised antelope is an indicator species for thehealth of African temperate grasslands that it inhabits.While Oribi Ourebia ourebi have a wide distribution on theAfrican continent, numbers have dropped sharply in SouthAfrica in recent years, mainly due to habitat destructionand poaching. It is classified as Endangered in South Africaand the 2009 survey of Oribi on privately owned landreturned a count of approximately 1 882 animals. One ofour key Oribi conservation activities is the translocation of‘doomed’ populations to areas where they can be betterconserved. A ‘doomed’ population is one for which theresults of the biannual counts show a decline in numbersover the past five years due to threats that cannot bestopped, and where it is clear that the remaining animalswill disappear if they are not moved to a more secure site.Fourteen Oribi were translocated in 2009. Ten were movedfrom Kasouga to Thomas River in the Eastern Cape andfour from the Hilton area to the Champagne Castle area inKwaZulu-Natal. The animals have settled well and all werefitted with ear tags for future monitoring.The EWT-TGSP contributed to research on Oribi stress levelsduring capture. These studies will help conservationistsdevelop a best practice manual for the capture andrelocation of Oribi, a project that will be completed in2010.Blue SwallowThe Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea is a highly specialisedbird that breeds in the short mist-belt grasslands alongthe eastern South African escarpment and north-westernSwaziland. It therefore acts as an indicator species for thehealth of this habitat. The species is classified as CriticallyEndangered in South Africa, with a population of just 35pairs counted in the 2008/2009 breeding season. Theglobal population, estimated at less than 1 500 pairs, isconsidered Vulnerable. In South Africa, numbers havedeclined by more than 80% over the last 100 years, mostlyas a result of habitat destruction caused by afforestation.Blue Swallows occur in very few formally protected areaswith the bulk of the population occurring on privatelyownedland.In 2009, the EWT-TGSP and its partners contributed towardsresearch on Blue Swallow genetics, sexing of Blue Swallowchicks and parental linkages in Blue Swallows. Little isknown about the species and specifically its breeding habitsand this information will tell conservationists more aboutthe South African population’s ecology and migratorypatterns and provide information on whether these birdsare cooperative breeders or not. Sex ratio informationwill help conservationists determine whether there is askewed sex ratio that could have an impact on breeding.All this information will guide management actions for BlueSwallows.Ludwig’s BustardThe Ludwig’s Bustard Neotis ludwigii has been on the radar asa species under threat as a result of interactions with energyinfrastructure for some time, but as the documentation ofpower line collisions through the EWT-WEIG improves, thereal extent of this threat is being recognised. The Ludwig’sBustard currently receives little conservation attentionand there have been no recent population estimates.As such, the EWT-WEIG began supporting a PhD on thespecies through the University of Cape Town in 2009. Theproject will undertake vision studies, movement studiesand population estimates and will test marking devices forpower lines with the aim of preventing Ludwig’s Bustardsfrom colliding with these.Red-billed OxpeckersOxpeckers have become extinct in some areas due toenvironmentally harmful wildlife and livestock dips.Oxpeckers feed on the ticks that in turn feed on the dippedanimals, so causing oxpecker mortalities. To addressthis, the EWT-WCPG translocates Red-billed OxpeckersBuphaghus erythrorhynchus from areas where they areabundant to areas where they once occurred but havesince become extinct. The Group works with landownersto ensure that environmentally friendly dipping practicesare undertaken before birds can be relocated to theseareas, so avoiding further losses.In July 2009, the EWT, Limpopo Environment and Tourismand a group of A-permit bird ringers captured Red-billedOxpeckers in the Kruger National Park. Fourteen birdswere captured and translocated to the Ihlanze CommercialGame Ranch in KwaZulu-Natal, supplementing apopulation that was successfully introduced in 2008 andwhich has subsequently bred. In September the teamcaptured a further 42 Red-billed Oxpeckers at a cattleranch in Hoedspruit, which were successfully translocatedto the Mpongo Private Nature Reserve near East Londonin the Eastern Cape.Honey BadgerHoney Badgers Mellivora capensis often come into conflictwith beekeepers when they feed on bee larvae anddestroy beehives, so causing economic losses. To addressthis the EWT runs a project that helps beekeepers preventlosses, using badger-friendly practices such as raisingbeehives above the reach of the badgers. Beekeepers whosuccessfully implement these practices may display theofficial ‘Badger Friendly Honey’ label on their products.In 2009, the project assessed its contribution to HoneyBadger conservation. It found that beekeepers are stillprotecting their hives effectively against badgers, evenwhen not making use of the ‘Badger Friendly’ label.However, consumers are not making an effort to buy‘Badger Friendly’ honey and awareness on the issue islacking. It was also found that beekeepers are not makinguse of the marketing advantage that the ‘Badger Friendly’label provides. No change in badger distribution could beobserved, suggesting that there has not been a declinein the Honey Badger population. Furthermore, the lackof reports on badgers being persecuted by beekeepersindicates that the programme has been effective inaddressing and solving the issue of badger killing.1011

Emerging threatsThe EWT-WEIG reports that the development of the windenergy industry has resulted in a new set of threats tomany bird species. The Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) process does not adequately take cumulative impactsinto account. While one site may be acceptable for anisolated wind turbine development from an avifaunal pointof view, the combined impact of multiple developmentswhen neighbouring areas are later developed could besignificant for some bird species. The EWT-WEIG’s toppriority is therefore to understand and manage the impactsof wind energy before it is too late. The EWT and BirdLifeSouth Africa (BLSA) will join efforts to address this in 2010through proactive engagement with the wind energyindustry; commissioning a national strategic assessmentof wind energy and birds; and providing input into EIAsfor new wind farms through comment as Interested &Affected Parties.Eskom plans to approximately double its power linenetwork in the next 20 years to meet the demands ofSouth Africa’s growing economy. It is therefore crucial thatthe construction of these new lines takes place in a waythat considers the impacts on birds, with the expert inputof EWT-WEIG.New species identified as being in need ofconservation actionIn 2009, a number of new species were identified asneeding conservation action either because of emergingor increasing threats, or because the species’ status wasnot well understood before and new studies have raisedconcerns for its survival. Conservation action is alreadyunder way or is being planned for the following species:• The Sungazer Cordylus giganteus is a lizard endemicto South Africa, inhabiting gentle sloping primarygrasslands dominated by Red Grass Themeda triandraand being an indicator species for the health of thishabitat. It is only found in isolated patches in theNorth Eastern Free State, Western KwaZulu-Natal andSouth Eastern Mpumalanga, is listed as Vulnerablein the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and isconsidered an excellent indicator species as it is mostlyinsectivorous, integral to many food webs and showshigh site fidelity. The main threats to the Sungazerare the pet trade and habitat destruction, primarilythrough mining, forestry and agriculture. Plans for2010 include implementation of a Sungazer projectin the Free State and stakeholders will include the pettrade sector and a number of academic institutionsthat have undertaken Sungazer studies.• The Marico Barb Barbus motebensis is an indigenousfish occurring in the upper Limpopo catchment and isan indicator species for various rivers in this system. Itis under threat from the impacts of urban settlement,mining and agriculture, all of which will impact onwater quality. Lack of resources to address the problemsfacing this and a number of other fish species is a majorlimiting factor to concerted conservation action, butthe importance of addressing the threats of decliningwater quality cannot be ignored.• The Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensisis classified as Endangered in South Africa. The lastcensus was undertaken in 1993 and showed that therewere only about 100 of these birds left in the country,of which 60 were found in the Kruger National Park(KNP). The EWT-BoPWG’s Saddle-billed Stork Projectis being implemented in the KNP in conjunction withSouth African National Parks (SANParks) and will helpto establish current population status in the KNP andmonitor long-term population changes of this species.A better understanding of the causes of decline of thespecies will inform future conservation action.• The impacts of Bovine Tuberculosis on Lions Pantheraleo in the KNP is not fully understood, but remainsan ongoing concern for Lion conservationists, asthe species as a whole faces increasing threats andpopulation decline throughout its range. A Lion BovineTuberculosis Disease Risk Assessment workshop wasconducted by the regional network of the ConservationBreeding Specialist Group (CBSG) in partnershipwith the EWT and SANParks in 2009. This aimed tothoroughly evaluate the current status of Lions in theKNP, collate current knowledge of Bovine Tuberculosisin Lions, review and discuss current research andclinical findings and investigate potential populationoutcomes through predictive simulation modellingefforts. The KNP will focus on addressing criticalknowledge gaps identified during the workshop.To build on this, a Biodiversity Management Planfor Species for the African Lion is being planned for2010.• Other threats facing Lions include conflict withhumans, inbreeding due to poor genetic managementin small fenced reserves, illegal hunting and trade. Thetiger bone trade also appears to be placing pressureon large predators as traders turn towards Lion bonesas an alternative. Tiger bones are used in traditionalChinese medicine, but according to Traffic South-EastAsia any large cat can be used as a substitute for thetiger, which is now quite rare, and Lion bones haverecently been used. The EWT was actively involvedin supporting the process to implement regulationsto effectively end the current canned lion huntingtrade – as it has become known. The EWT also drove acampaign to inform the public of the role that they mayinadvertently play when supporting some Lion pettingfacilities, and worked with a number of other NGOsto develop a report on the options for addressing theissue of the thousands of lions remaining in captivity,waiting to be hunted.• There has been a marked increase in the illegal tradeof rhinoceros horn and poaching of mainly WhiteRhinoceros Ceratotherium simum in recent years. Inthe 24 years between 1980 and 2004, 148 rhinoswere poached in South Africa, which increased to126 between 2005 and 2008, and further increasein 2009, when 122 rhinos were poached. In June2009, stakeholders gathered in the Kruger NationalPark to discuss the situation and formulate solutions.The workshop showed that the private sector is notgeared up to protect rhino on its own, emphasisingthe need for a comprehensive project to addresspoaching. South Africa is pursuing a three-prongedapproach to tackle this problem, addressing lawenforcement issues, the trade in rhino horn and thesecurity of rhino populations in situ. The EWT RhinoSecurity Project aims to support these approaches byimproving the security of rhino on privately ownedland and supporting law enforcement and poachinginvestigations.Long-term monitoring of our flagship speciesWe monitor species to observe and understand trends intheir populations over time and to be alerted to possibleconcerns for their conservation status. In this way we areable to investigate threats and act in advance of thembecoming serious problems.The EWT’s IT4Conservation Group has developed aKnowledge Management System, providing one centralisedstorage location for all ecological and spatial informationfor the EWT and its partners. This database enables theEWT to perform detailed Geographic Information Systems(GIS) analyses on its species and habitat data and supportsthe integration of datasets across EWT Working Groups andstakeholder projects. This is a critical tool in strengtheningglobal conservation decision-making, as it will help us toidentify strategic conservation needs and risks and reportagainst biodiversity indicators. Database populationbegan in earnest in 2009. Working Groups continue tocollect relevant data and as the system matures, all newand historical data will reside within this central database.1213

Furthermore, the EWT is a Global Biodiversity InformationFacility (GBIF) Associate Node. GBIF is an internationalgovernment-initiated and funded initiative focused onmaking biodiversity data available to all, for scientificresearch, conservation and sustainable development.It provides the information technology infrastructure,protocols and standards to mobilise data pertaining tospecific taxonomic groups. The EWT / GBIF partnershipfacilitates sub-Saharan Africa participation in GBIF, helpingto increase local and regional capacity to ensure that highquality biodiversity information can be digitised, accessedand shared appropriately and securely. It also explorescreation of compatible links between existing datasets, inparticular transboundary datasets, to allow for non-taxaanalyses.All our species-focused Working Groups collect data on thespecies with which they work, such as location, breeding,mortality and causes of mortality. The EWT-WCPG alsorecords wildlife poisoning events across the sub-continent,while the EWT-WEIG manages a Central Incident Registercontaining bird power line mortality data.How our data were used in 2009Satellite tracking of Amur Falcons Falco amurensis during2009 revealed that there is significant movement of thesemigrant birds in their southern African wintering grounds.One individual covered a distance of about 9 025 kmduring the 25 weeks that it spent in its wintering area.Very little is known about the species’ migratory routesand the information acquired in this manner will enableus to determine the areas of importance for conservationaction, where human actions could negatively affect thespecies’ migration. In the longer term the potential impactof climate change on migratory patterns can also bedetermined through these data.The EWT-BoPWG is partaking in a SANParks project todetermine river water quality and quantity in the KrugerNational Park (KNP) using key indicator species. Throughthis project, Pel’s Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli and AfricanFish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer data collected by the EWT-BoPWG in 2009 informed the management approach thatSANParks will take for the KNP’s riverine habitats.The EWT-CCG runs regular photographic censuses forCheetah and African Wild Dogs Lycaon pictus in the KNP.Based on the low population sizes revealed in the 2009census, the Group is embarking on a long-term project inthe KNP to determine and evaluate the factors affectingthe population dynamics of these two predators. TheGroup also receives regular reports of African Wild Dogsoutside of protected areas in the Waterberg and a researchproject is being planned to investigate the spatial ecologyof these dogs, and other carnivores in the area, to assessthreats to them. Data collected by the EWT-CCG wereused in Ecological Niche Modelling for Cheetah, whichinvolved identifying what habitat is potentially suitable forthe species in South Africa. This will be used to identifyareas currently important for Cheetah and also for rangeexpansion in future. Data acquired through studieson African Wild Dogs in small reserves feeds into thenational meta-population database, which helps carnivoreconservationists manage the national metapopulation toensure the sustainability of South Africa’s Wild Dog packsin the long-term, a key goal for the EWT-CCG.The EWT entered into seven data sharing agreements fordata on cranes, where our data were used in research,conservation planning and Environmental ImpactAssessments. Our crane data was also used for WattledCrane Ecological Niche Modelling, helping craneconservationists identify suitable habitats where thisCritically Endangered species could potentially occur andso informing conservation decisions. Quantitative SiteAssessments completed for Grey Crowned Cranes gavecrane conservationists an opportunity to digitally assessthese birds’ nesting site quality, which allows us to prioritiseconservation action for the species.Research programmes on yellowfish, including radiotelemetry studies to determine movement patterns, havegiven us a much better understanding of the species’ecology. This allowed the EWT-HRP to provide input intoRiver Management Plans, which were developed for somestretches of the Vaal River in recent years.Stories from the fieldOn 3 June 2009 we planned to release Rory, a 2-year old WildDog who was the son of our alpha female Stellar. He washeld separately to the new males that had been translocatedto the De Beers Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve fromShambala Game Reserve, as we were concerned that theymight harm him. We decided to release him a day beforethe others, so that we could monitor his interaction throughthe outer boma fence, which has more fence length tointeract through than the internal partition fence.On that balmy winter’s day I opened the gates of hisenclosure expecting him to rush out into the tawny veld,but that afternoon he was still in the boma. I entered theboma to ‘herd’ him out as I was concerned that scavengerslike Spotted Hyaenas would harm him. While doing so,the most bizarre thing happened – a female Cheetah hadentered the boma after me, and proceeded to stalk Rory!Upon realising he was prey, Rory sped past me, howling indistress, to the opposite corner of the boma and with theCheetah in hot pursuit! I very quickly had to make a planto separate them. It would have been difficult to explain tomy boss that we had lost a Wild Dog to a Cheetah!With deft zigzag driving I managed to displace Rory to theentrance end of the boma. I nudged the Cheetah into theopposite corner, and so Rory escaped unharmed. I thendecided to close the boma gates as one of my colleagues,Rox Brummer, had wanted to capture Cheetah for months,but to no avail. Well, my colleagues branded me a ‘nutter’in achieving such, and came to the boma the following dayto behold my catch. We subsequently were able to collarher and add to the list of studied carnivores on Venetia. Tomy knowledge a Cheetah has never been caught in thisway!John PowerField Officer: EWT-CCG Wild Dog Project1415

Conservation ActivitiesReport back on progress towards implementing theEWT Conservation Strategy2008 – 2013STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE 2:Ensure that the viability of threatened habitats andecosystems is maintained.Biodiversity conservation requires a holistic approach:integrating the protection of species, habitats andecosystem processes. As such a large component ofthe EWT’s work focuses on action to protect threatenedhabitats, which in turn support a host of species andecosystem services, critical for sustaining life on earth. TheEWT is not against development that supports sustainablelivelihoods and the right of every South African to a healthyenvironment, as enshrined in our Constitution. However,we are growing exceedingly concerned at the shorttermapproach to many developments in South Africathat threaten to destroy fragile and critically importanthabitats, drive species extinctions and support short-termwealth gain for a few, whilst undermining the rights ofmany more to sustainable natural resource access andenvironmental health. It is this position that guides ourdecision as to which developments we support and aim toenhance through constructive input and advice, and thosewhich are simply unacceptable due to their significantand irreversible environmental damage and socio-culturalharm.This Strategic Imperative is primarily addressed throughthe Biodiversity Stewardship South Africa Programme, theEWT’s Birds of Prey Working Group, Carnivore ConservationGroup, Conservation Leadership Group, Healthy RiversProgramme, International Crane Foundation / EWTPartnership for African Cranes, Riverine Rabbit WorkingGroup and Threatened Grassland Species Programme.Current and new threats to habitatsMiningMining is increasingly becoming a serious threat to SouthAfrica’s natural habitats, particularly in Mpumalanga andthe Limpopo provinces. Projects such as a suite of coalmines planned for development on the doorstep of theMapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site, andseveral new mines in the Waterberg and on the EasternHighveld will destroy large areas of habitat for manyspecies and impact on important ecosystem services suchas water quality and quantity. Mining for various metalshas further posed a significant threat to pristine areas inthe country such as the famous Wild Coast in the EasternCape and vast tracts of the Northern Cape and WesternCape.The World Heritage Site and Transfrontier ConservationArea bordering the Mapungubwe National Park hasbeen targeted for a strip of open cast and undergroundcoal mines, a coal-fired power station and the associatedinfrastructure that includes railways, roads and hundreds ofbuildings. This is an area of immense cultural significanceand environmental value, as it is situated next to theMapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Siteand also falls within the broader Mapungubwe CulturalLandscape. The EWT, together with a host of otherenvironmental and cultural organisations, supportedan external review and independent assessment of theEnvironmental Management Plan (EMP) for the proposedVele mine in 2009, which was duly undertaken by the SouthAfrican Institute for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA). Theassessment identified significant problem areas and fatalflaws, which were submitted to the Department of MineralResources (DMR) and the Department of EnvironmentalAffairs as part of the many objections lodged against thisdevelopment. The process of preventing this mine fromdestroying the uniqueness of this sacred landscape willform a key part of the EWT’s activities in 2010.The EWT furthermore commented on 12 separatedevelopment applications, including mining and urbandevelopments that could negatively impact on grasslands.South Africa’s grasslands are among our most threatened,but most important biomes and with less than 2% beingformally conserved, private custodianship of this biome iscrucial. Despite the fact that only one of these developmentapplications was declined, for the majority of the remainingdevelopments, the EWT’s Threatened Grassland SpeciesProgramme (EWT-TGSP) was able to influence the wayin which the development would take place so thatenvironmental damage would be reduced. The currentEnvironmental Impact Assessment process is limited inmany ways and does not always ensure that developmentdecisions are made in the best interest of the environment.However, without the input of the EWT and many othercredible environmental organisations in the country, thatplay a critical watchdog role, our environment would befar worse off and many more habitats would be irreversiblydestroyed as a result.Land degradationIn the semi-arid Karoo land degradation is mainly causedby livestock overgrazing, resulting in soil erosion, loss ofvegetation cover, reduction in species diversity and changesin species composition. The EWT’s Riverine Rabbit WorkingGroup (EWT-RRWG) Riparian Habitat RehabilitationProject aims to address this in many ways, including therehabilitation of key degraded riparian corridors in the areaand implementation of biodiversity stewardship. Intactriparian systems offer important ecological services thatpromote the resilience of ecosystems and communitiesto climate change, including storing water and reducingfloods, stabilising river banks, improving water quality bytrapping sediment and nutrients, and providing shelterand food for animals. In 2009, through a partnershipbetween the EWT-RRWG and environmental consultancyConservation Management Services, a new soil conservationrehabilitation strategy was developed for three trial sitesalong the Sak River in the Fraserburg district. The sitesare undergoing rehabilitation with techniques designedspecifically to re-stabilise and conserve topsoil and to trapwater, seeds and organic material and adapted for thisunique environment.To address land degradation issues in key wetland habitatsin southern and East Africa, the International CraneFoundation / EWT Partnership for African Cranes is involvedin community based natural resource management(CBNRM) projects in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda.Alternative livelihood options such as bee-keeping, chickenKey Highlights• The EWT commented on 12 development applications and wasable to influence the way in which these would take place so thatenvironmental damage would be reduced.• Three trial sites along the Sak River in the Fraserburg district areundergoing rehabilitation to re-stabilise and conserve topsoil andto trap water, seeds and organic material adapted for this uniqueenvironment.• The EWT completed the development of national guidelines forthe implementation of biodiversity stewardship in 2009.1617

and tomato farming and tree nurseries have been developedto decrease the disturbance and use of wetlands in ruralcommunity areas for livelihood creation, and resulting inwetland habitats being conserved for many threatenedspecies such as cranes. The Partnership also worked withWorking for Water in the Wakkerstroom area, facilitatingthe use of bio-control agents to reduce alien invasive plantsin wetland areas to improve wetland quality in this criticalecosystem.Climate changePotential habitat change in the Western Cape as a resultof climate change has recently come to the fore. The area,with its specific agricultural landscape mosaic currentlyconsisting of wheat fields and pasture, is the globalstronghold for South Africa’s National Bird, the Blue CraneAnthropoides paradiseus. Predicted climatic changes basedon data from published studies is likely to impact on thecrop composition of the area, with unpredictable impactson the cranes and other species. The ICF / EWT Partnershipfor African Cranes is initiating research to develop a betterunderstanding of the potential effects of climate-inducedhabitat change on Blue Cranes.Climate change predictions are that climatic phenomenasuch as droughts and downpours will become more severeand this could impact on the structure and function ofwetlands. While current science does not allow a directcausal link, our Ugandan and Kenyan community projectsreport that wetlands are becoming smaller as a result of theintense drought that the area is experiencing. The problemis compounded by the increasing impact of people livingin the area and utilising the land for agriculture, so furtherdestroying wetlands.Other threatsConservationists still do not fully grasp the magnitude ofthe threats facing biodiversity in surface aquatic ecosystemsin South Africa, primarily because the people and resourcesto monitor and conserve these ecosystems are lacking.However, isolated testing through research programmes,such as those run by the Council for Scientific and IndustrialResearch (CSIR), shows that the state of these ecosystemscontinues to worsen due to over-exploitation and pollution.The National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment undertakenby the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)in 2004 shows that over 80% of South Africa’s riverecosystems are threatened and 44% were already CriticallyEndangered in 2004. A national update to this study iscurrently underway and first results confirm these figuresand show that many tributaries are in an equally precariousstate. The Department of Water Affairs reports that thesectors most impacting on the water resources in terms ofquantity and quality are urban use, industry, mining andagriculture.High flow events in the Vaal River in 2009 diluted the waterand temporarily reduced the pollution threats posed to theyellowfish living in this system. The increased public pressureon sewerage operators within the Upper Vaal catchmentalso resulted in a reduction of raw sewage being releasedinto the Vaal River in 2009, further temporarily reducingthe threats to these fish. The impact of alien invasivevegetation, in particular Water Hyacinths, also decreasedin 2009, again as a result of high flows that dispersed andswept away the invasive plants. These reductions in threatare a welcome reprieve, however, the pollution sourcesremain in place, and the focus of the EWT-HRP in 2010 willcontinue to be on working with sources of impact to findsolutions for long-term reduction in pressures.The Mpophomeni community is based on the outskirts ofHowick in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. A wetland cutsthrough the area, and the community’s agricultural activitieshad begun to encroach on this important natural resource.Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife and the University ofKwaZulu-Natal have determined a utilisation zone andrecommended a conservation area for Mpophomeni, andthe EWT-CLG worked with the community to help themadhere to these recommendations so that they couldcontinue to live sustainably while protecting the wetlandand the biodiversity it supports. In 2009, stakeholders,including the community, repaired soil erosion andremoved alien invasive plants in the area as a start torestoration efforts. By the end of the year it was restoredsufficiently to be sustainable and the EWT will therefore beinvolved in an advisory capacity only regarding the area’smanagement in future.New areas identified as being in need ofconservation actionThe following areas were identified and conservation actionis already under way or is being planned for 2010:• Palm-nut Vultures Gypohierax angolensis occur in verysmall numbers in their coastal forest habitat, whichis under severe pressure from agriculture. Similarly,the Southern Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus fasciolatusoccurs in small numbers in the Sand Forest, which isunder pressure from agricultural plantations. The EWT-BoPWG has identified these areas as being in needof specific conservation action and has establisheda partnership with the Wildlands Conservation Trustthrough which its fieldworkers have been trained toassist with the monitoring of certain key species in theZululand area that are affected by habitat change andmodification. These two species will act as indicators ofchanges and loss of the two types of habitat that theyfrequent. Their presence in rehabilitated areas couldalso be an indication of the success of such work.• The former Transkei reportedly supports good numbersof Grey Crowned Cranes, but conservationists havelittle factual information on this. As such this area willbe investigated further in 2010 for a possible criticalhabitat for these birds.• The Umgano Community Project in KwaZulu-Natal,currently part of the Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal WildlifeStewardship Programme, is a key grassland area andthe ICF / EWT Partnership for African Cranes will starta community-based programme here in 2010 to helpsecure this critical habitat by encouraging communitysupport and conservation action.• The Zambezi basin in Zambia is the key area forWattled Cranes internationally and as such the ICF /EWT Partnership for African Cranes will investigate thearea in more detail in 2010.• Besides the newly discovered Riverine Rabbitdistribution areas in the Northern Cape, reports havebeen received of Riverine Rabbit sightings in the DeAar and Richmond area. Follow-up visits of the areaswill be done in 2010 to ensure that the custodians ofthis land are supported in ensuring that the speciesand its habitat are well conserved.• The Eastern Cape and Free State have significantgrassland areas that fall within the national priorityconservation area network as set by the South AfricanNational Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and that areextremely high in biodiversity value. There is limitedcapacity in these provincial conservation authorities todevelop the necessary conservation action. The EWT-TGSP therefore plans to expand its project range toinclude these important areas and assist provincialauthorities in protecting them through implementationof a Sungazer Cordylus giganteus project in the FreeState. Additional project possibilities are being exploredin the Eastern Cape, with biodiversity stewardshipbeing one option.Stewardship as a solution to addressing habitatlossAs much of South Africa’s important biodiversity existson private or communal land, biodiversity conservationmust focus on private and communal landowners andusers. As such, biodiversity stewardship was identifiedas an essential tool for conservation in the South Africancontext. The primary goal of biodiversity stewardship is tosecure biodiversity features of both immediate and longtermvalue through voluntary agreements with private andcommunal landowners and users. In this way, biodiversitystewardship may help to realise other conservation goalssuch as establishing corridors of adaptation for climatechange, securing ecosystem services and sustainable landmanagement practices.The EWT has played a significant role in this field, being thecoordinator for the Biodiversity Stewardship South Africaprogramme (BSSA) in 2008 and 2009 on behalf of theDepartment of Environmental Affairs (DEA). In this role, theEWT was responsible for developing national guidelines forthe implementation of biodiversity stewardship. This wascompleted in 2009 and the document was well receivedby the provinces. It is in the process of receiving approvalby various authorities with the intention of it becoming thenational guideline for biodiversity stewardship.A few provinces are well on their way in implementingbiodiversity stewardship. A number of biodiversityagreements have been signed and a significant number ofnature reserves have been declared in terms of the NationalEnvironmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57of 2003). Nature reserves proclaimed in this way add tonational protected footprint and biodiversity targets as setout by DEA.1819

Where the EWT’s flagship species occur and coincide withpriority areas for provincial stewardship, we collaboratewith the provinces to help facilitate these stewardshipagreements. The best protection we can provide a speciesis to protect its habitat and stewardship agreements allowfor this more formal protection of private land by guidingand incentivising landowners to sustainably manage, andwhere necessary, effectively conserve biomes and habitatson their land. The EWT-TGSP formed part of the teamled by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife that assessedvarious properties in 2009 to determine what category ofstewardship should be awarded, offering special input onBlue Swallows, Oribi, Wattled Cranes and grasslands. TheEWT-TGSP will also help to draw up the management plansfor these properties once the terms of the stewardshipagreements have been agreed to.The EWT’s involvement in national conservationplanningProvincial Conservation Plans are used to guide conservationdecisions for each province. The data collected by the EWTcontributes to the development of provincial conservationplans and assists in prioritising areas for conservation. Areasprioritised in this way in 2009 include the Bill Barns Oribiand Crane Nature Reserve; Roselands Farm and DaltonTrust.The ICF / EWT Partnership for African Cranes was involvedin the Provincial Development Council Task Force forMpumalanga and the Albert Luthuli and MsukaligwaEnvironmental Management Framework in 2009. It alsocommented on the Environmental Management Frameworkreport for the Olifants and Letaba Rivers’ catchment areasin 2009.The EWT’s Birds of Prey Working Group (EWT-BoPWG)Grass Owl Task Force continued to add valuableinformation to grassland conservation initiatives such as theSANBI Grasslands Programme in 2009. Furthermore, theUkuhlamba Conservation Plan addressed the conservationof the montane grasslands region and here the EWT-BoPWG’s Bearded Vulture Task Force and the EWT-TGSPprovided input in the form of threatened species data andexpertise. The EWT-BoPWG is also involved in a numberof programmes addressing savannah conservation, suchas participation in the re-assessment of the MapungubweNational Park Management Plan, participation in theGround Hornbill Action Group and providing input into theBlouberg Municipal Authority management plan.Part of the Critically Endangered Riverine Rabbit’sdistribution range falls into the Namaqua district, forwhich the Northern Cape’s first Biodiversity Sector Planhas been completed. All areas where Riverine Rabbits havebeen sighted in the past have been identified as CriticalBiodiversity Areas 1 (CBA1), indicating that these areirreplaceable sites that must be maintained in a naturalstate with no further biodiversity loss. All other suitableriverine areas have been declared as CBA2s. The EWT-RRWG species distribution data were instrumental inidentifying these areas.The ICF / EWT Partnership for African Cranes wasinvolved in the development of the ChrissiesmeerRamsar Site application, which is currently in the processof obtaining letters of consent from landowners in thearea. The Partnership also helped the Water ResearchCouncil with the development of buffer zones aroundwetlands. The EWT furthermore commented on the DraftMining and Biodiversity Best Practice Guidelines, and alsocontributed to the National Freshwater Ecosystem PriorityAreas planning being undertaken by SANBI. Wetlandsinformation gathered from field staff was provided toSANBI’s Freshwater Programme for inclusion in theNational Wetlands Inventory.Additional action to conserve habitats• The ICF / EWT Partnership for African Cranes iscompleting Quantitative Site Assessments, lookingat the proportion of each habitat type around GreyCrowned Crane nest sites. Once finalised, an actionplan will be developed to improve the habitat statusaround historical nests or those active sites that areunder threat.• Data gathered from the Karoo indigenous plantnursery in Loxton has been used to determine themost suitable times for the propagation of the variousindigenous seeds and cuttings. This will help thenursery propagate plants in the most effective way,so supporting the Riparian Habitat RehabilitationProject.• Monitoring data collected by the EWT-TGSP shows thatthe majority of South Africa’s grassland habitat and thespecies that depend on this habitat for survival occuron private or communally owned land. This data hascontributed to the identification of priority grasslandareas for stewardship particularly in KwaZulu-Natal,Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape.• Ecological Niche Modelling was used to identifyimportant areas for carnivores in 2009. As a result,the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Group (EWT-CCG)was able to begin identifying potentially importantCheetah habitats in South Africa. Once this has beenfinalised, the identified areas can be protected in away that will ensure sustainable existence of Cheetahinto the future, while other species and ecosystemswill also benefit as a result of these actions.• Our Healthy Rivers Programme is compiling a reportdocumenting the ecology and biology of yellowfishin the Vaal River. Once this has been completed,information on the ecological requirements of thisspecies will contribute towards its conservation.Stories from the fieldFarmers depend on the land for their livelihood, andconservationists know that without enough of the requiredhabitat in a good state, the end could well be in sight forsome species. So it seems reasonable that landowners andconservationists should be working together hand-in-glove,and in many instances this is the case.The number of landowners who are looking at farmingwith the environment is constantly growing. Many formalconservation bodies are very involved with farmers and theserious and increasing problems they are experiencing,much of this coming from the decreasing habitat for variousspecies and, in many cases, the almost non-existence ofnatural predators to keep control of problem animals.Working out of Wakkerstroom, in the highveld grasslandsof Mpumalanga, South Africa’s three crane species are myparticular passion. And it is through these wonderful birdsthat I have had access to some of the most beautiful farmsimaginable. Abounding with bird life, still home to smallherds of Mountain Reedbuck or Oribi, rich in clear, cleanwater issuing forth from undisturbed springs and wetlandsand tumbling over rocky cliffs, I have revelled in the uttersilence, broken only by bird song, and marvelled at theamazing variety, colour and forms of plant life - and giventhanks that I have had this rare privilege.What we “craniacs” working for the EWT hope to achieve isthat we can play our little part in not committing cranes tothe history books, but ensure that they will still be aroundfor people to get excited about, to exclaim over at thesight of flocks or pairs dancing and displaying and, like thebeautiful Blue Crane, flying over the grasslands in spring,uttering the distinctive call known to so many indigenouspeoples, telling them “now is the time to start getting yourlands ready for planting”!Landowners, please help us to allow your children thisprivilege.Glenn RamkeField Officer: ICF / EWT Partnership for African Cranes2021

Conservation ActivitiesReport back on progress towards implementing theEWT Conservation Strategy2008 – 2013STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE 3:Develop innovative, economically viable alternatives toaddress harmful impacts to the benefit of people andbiodiversity.In order for our conservation messages to be well received andto reduce, and if possible prevent, environmental damageand destruction, we need to develop environmentallysound alternatives to the activities undertaken by variousindustry sectors that currently impact negatively on theenvironment. The EWT adopts a partnership approach byworking with key sector leaders, and in this way has beenable to effect a number of viable solutions to biodiversitythreatening processes.This Strategic Imperative is primarily addressed throughthe EWT’s Airport Wildlife Working Group, CarnivoreConservation Group, Wildlife Conflict Prevention Groupand Wildlife & Energy Interaction Group.Addressing biodiversity threatening processesBird air strike avoidanceAirports can be dangerous places for wildlife. Birds areattracted to airport grounds to feed or nest, or they mayfly over the area to feed or get to roost sites. Birds andaircraft have collided, with serious consequences forboth the aviation industry and birds, since almost thebeginning of aviation. The EWT’s Airport Wildlife WorkingGroup (EWT-AWWG) addresses this specific issue througha strong partnership with Airports Company South Africa(ACSA) that aims to constantly find innovative, ethical andenvironmentally sound solutions to the problem of birdsat airports.Our interventions aim to keep bird and otherwildlife numbers to a minimum on airfields throughenvironmentally sound measures; to increase aviationsafety; and contribute to biodiversity protection. Variousmethods are employed which are specific to the localenvironment in terms of habitat and species presence. Wepromote habitat modification through methods such asgrass cutting regimes, removal of trees and other perchingdevices, varying grass species and vegetation types andencouraging water drainage from around airfields. Scaretactics to deter wildlife from airfields include using bordercollies, pyrotechnics, sirens and lasers. Bird and WildlifeCommittee meetings are regularly held at each ACSAairport where various methods are discussed. Programmeeffectiveness is measured through the trends in datagathered on, in particular, bird presence and abundance.Key HighlightsIn September the EWT-AWWG attended the 2009 BirdStrike North America Conference in Victoria, Canada topresent a poster entitled ‘Modelling Ecological Niches forwildlife species occurring within airport Environments’.The poster investigated the possible use of a range ofenvironmental data that is readily available, but has to datenot been used extensively for airport management in termsof bird and wildlife control. Expanding the use of thesedata to guide long-term decision making and planningprocesses using tools such as Ecologial Niche Modelling ispart of the investigation. Furthermore, there are currentlyno international standards for training airport personnelon airstrike avoidance. The conference and subsequenttask team discussions have seen the construction of a setof standards that have been presented to the InternationalCivil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for approval. Theserecommendations are being incorporated into the standardscurrently under development for use in South Africa.Power line collisions and electrocutionsUp until 13 years ago, vultures and other large birds, inparticular storks, cranes and Ludwig’s Bustards Neotisludwigii, were often killed on power lines, either whenflying into the cables or being electrocuted when perchingon the conductors. The EWT, through its Wildlife & EnergyInteraction Group (EWT-WEIG) together with nationalenergy utility Eskom, began working on developingsolutions and today power lines that have been identifiedas particularly dangerous to birds are fitted with ‘flappers’,devices that mark the lines to make them more visible tobirds. Furthermore, the exposed conductors are insulatedso that the perching birds are not directly exposed to thelive electricity. The EWT-WEIG also advises on the placementof new power lines to avoid bird flight paths and in someinstances Eskom has even moved existing lines based onthis advice, thus reducing the number of birds being killedby electrical infrastructure in South Africa.In the past, collision data were collected opportunistically.This was re-evaluated in 2009 and a systematic datacollection protocol was developed to allow better analysisof level of threat and trends over time. An independentreview of the programme was undertaken to determine its• The EWT undertook a research project to better understand how birdssee. This will help to develop measures to prevent birds from flyinginto power lines.• The EWT took on the Livestock Guarding Dog Project in 2009. Thisproject has been extremely successful in using livestock guardingdogs as a non-lethal predator control method and farmers who havereceived these dogs reported a reduction in predation losses of between95% and 100%.• The EWT’s Predators and Farmers booklet, previously only availablein English, was translated into Afrikaans and isiZulu, so reaching a farwider audience.strengths and weaknesses, and inform a more streamlinedapproach in future. The results of the review will define theprogramme’s focus in 2010.In addition, the EWT-WEIG undertook a research project tobetter understand how birds see, in the hope that this willhelp them to prevent birds from flying into power lines.Professor Graham Martin, of the University of Birmingham,is leading the research and developed a method formeasuring bird visual fields and acuity. This was the firsttime that research of this nature had been undertaken withregard to bird power line collisions. Preliminary findingsshow that bird families differ in their ability to see and thatseveral of the relevant species have far better peripheralthan frontal vision. This has major implications for collisionwith power lines that are invariably in front of birds inflight. Drawing a bird’s attention to the front, in order tosee an overhead power line, may be even more importantthan previously thought. The final results of the study willbe ready by early 2010.Human-wildlife conflictThe EWT works extensively with landowners to reduceconflict with wildlife and ensure that wildlife can existand thrive both within and outside of protected areas.For many species this is crucial to their survival, as theyeither cannot physically be kept within the boundaries ofa protected area (such as birds), or require very large areasof land to find enough food and avoid predators (such asthe African Wild Dog).Conflict between predators and livestock is a key problemin all areas where livestock farming occurs. As a result,many farmers utilise environmentally destructive methodsto kill predators, such as poisoning, gin trapping andhunting. The EWT addresses this problem by workingwith farmers to better understand the problem andprevent livestock losses rather than simply react to them.In 2009, the EWT-WCPG took on the Livestock GuardianDog Project, initiated in South Africa by the De WildtCheetah and Wildlife Trust and the Cheetah OutreachTrust. This increased the Group’s focus around pro-activeinterventions in addition to ongoing management advice.2223

This project promotes the use of the Anatolian Shepherd,a breed of dog used to guard free-ranging sheep on farmswhere they are vulnerable to predators. This project hasbeen extremely successful as a non-lethal predator controlmethod and farmers who have received Anatolians havereported a reduction in predation losses of between 95%and 100%. In 2009, the project placed 19 Anatolianswithin the range of the Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus in theLimpopo and North West provinces. Predators benefitingfrom this project include the Cheetah, but also the BrownHyaena Parahyaena brunnea, Spotted Hyaena Crocutacrocuta, Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas, CaracalCaracal caracal and Leopard Panthera pardus. The projecthas the potential to change the way farmers managelivestock from a hands-off to hands-on approach, aswas practiced historically on a smaller scale. Field stafffurthermore addressed farmers and communities onwildlife conflict issues at several farmers’ days and in fourfarmer workshops addressing human wildlife conflictissues organised by the EWT-WCPG. The Group alsoprovided input into the Norms & Standards for DamageCausing Animals, promoting preventative and pro-activesustainable wildlife conflict management methods.In 2008 the Northern Cape Red Meat Producers’Organisation and the South African Wool Growers’Association formed a forum with conservation NGOsincluding the EWT and the Cape Leopard Trust, with theaim of finding solutions to the livestock-wildlife conflicton private farmland. The EWT-RRWG is an advisorypartner in this forum and aims to build a partnershipwith red meat producers, wool growers and farmers toachieve its conservation objectives. In 2009, educationalpresentations and training in predator management weregiven to approximately 700 farmers across South Africathrough this forum. In addition, monitor farms have beenestablished that will provide data around livestock-wildlifeconflict issues. The co-operative approach was a firstsuccessful step in the Northern Cape to tackle this threat.The EWT-WCPG provided the EWT’s Riverine Rabbit WorkingGroup (EWT-RRWG) with advice and materials to addressgeneral wildlife conflict issues in the Riverine Rabbit range.This information was used for input into Riverine RabbitConservancy management plans. The EWT-RRWG sits onthe Northern Cape Damage Causing Animal Forum withthe aim of influencing the way in which human wildlifeconflict is managed in the Northern Cape.The EWT’s Predators and Farmers booklet is a key resourcefor assisting farmers to prevent predator problems as ithelps farmers to implement environmentally responsiblemeasures for dealing with predators, and aims to ensureprevention and targeting of only individual animals ratherthan entire species. This booklet is available in Englishand in 2009 was translated into Afrikaans and isiZulu, soreaching a far wider audience.In addition, the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Group (EWT-CCG) conducted a community survey in KwaZulu-Natal,during 2009, to establish the real versus the perceivedthreat to livestock by predators. Results from this study aredue to be published during 2010, but preliminary resultsindicate that communities perceive factors like theft anddrought to be far more significant threats to livestockthan predators. There are certainly cases of livestockdepredation and the blame is largely being placed onSpotted Hyaenas and Leopards. Wild Dogs in this surveycontributed no losses, therefore, while conservationistsknow that this species does occasionally take livestock, thesurvey provides evidence that this happens infrequently.It is easier to speak to communities when the perceivedthreat of Wild Dogs killing livestock is put into perspective.There also appears to be a reasonably positive attitudetowards Wild Dogs with over 90% of respondents keen tolearn more.Wildlife poisoningPoisoning is an ongoing and serious threat to ourbiodiversity. Wildlife is often poisoned intentionally forfood, for use in traditional medicine and beliefs, or inresponse to conflict situations such as when predators killlivestock. However, accidental poisoning is also a commonoccurrence, when, for example, farmers use toxic livestockdips that kill oxpeckers feeding on parasites on the dippedanimals. Poisoned bait set out for predators can also havea devastating effect on other non-target species such asvultures, which feed on poisoned carcasses in large numbersand so are killed in large numbers.Chemical stewardship is the responsible custody ofchemical products from the manufacturer to the finaluse or destruction, to ensure that products are usedresponsibly, that the people handling chemical productsare trained to use them responsibly, and that the productsare also disposed of responsibly. EWT-WCPG is encouragingthis through engagement along the entire value chain. Byworking with selected industry role-players and regulatorsto define and refine responsible stewardship, and topromote and encourage responsible stewardship, the EWT-WCPG is hoping that chemical stewardship will be adoptedwidely in the rest of the industry.The EWT-WCPG established the National Chemical CrimeForum in 2006 to more effectively address incidences ofpesticide abuse to kill wildlife. This mandate has expandedin recent years to include human and domestic animalpesticide killings. The network was established to enableexchange of information between stakeholders and helpsto ensure that crimes are followed up appropriately (i.e.specimens are stored appropriately, sent to the correctforensics laboratories, examinations are followed up andcases are seen through to court). In the four years since itsinception, the Forum has substantially streamlined processesto ensure that crimes are followed up appropriately. TheForum has developed protocols on how to investigate achemical crime to ensure that a case can be successfullyopened. This has been widely communicated and as a resultthere were at least two convictions in 2009 for chemicalcrimes, which involved the illegal sale of chemicals on thestreet. As a result of the Forum’s protocols, cases couldsuccessfully be opened and led to these convictions.Electric fencingElectric fences effectively limit the movement of gamespecies and most predators. However, their designmeans many species are also electrocuted on them eachyear. A species’ behaviour and reaction to external stimulicontributes to the likelihood of it being electrocuted.Arboreal species such as chameleons, genets and bushbabiesoften climb fences and therefore stand a greater chance ofcoming into contact with the high voltage strands. Whentortoises come into contact with an electrified strand,they react by withdrawing the head and limbs into theshell but remain as part of the fence’s circuit, whicheventually leads to them being killed. A number of snakespecies, as well as Pangolins Manis temminckii, have asimilar response, curling around the electrified strandand being shocked to death.The EWT, in conjunction with the University of theWitwatersrand, commissioned a study to assess theimpact of electric fences on small animals in South Africain 2007, and the research component of the projectwas concluded in December 2008. In 2009, a pamphletwas produced explaining the problem, outlining theresearch findings and suggesting mitigation measuresthat will result in electric fences being made saferfor vulnerable species. This formed the basis for thedevelopment of Phase 2 of the project, which focuses ontesting the proposed mitigation measures to enable thedevelopment of a norms and standards document. Thiswill be tackled in 2010.The EWT-WCPG runs a number of helplines aimedat assisting the public to gain information aboutenvironmentally responsible poison application,alternatives to poisons, ethical predator management,rodent, bat and bird management and dealing withalien invasive plants:• EWT-WCPG Wildlife Poisoning Report Line:+27 (0)11 486 1102• EWT-WCPG Household Pest Control Help Line:+27 (0)11 486 1102• Nashua Wildlife Conflict Managment Help Line:+27 (0)82 802 6223• Animal Health Help Line:+27 (0)82 325 6578• Vegetation Management Help Line:+27 (0)82 325 65782425

Conservation ActivitiesReport back on progress towards implementing theEWT Conservation Strategy2008 – 2013Stories from the fieldSTRATEGIC IMPERATIVE 4:Increase awareness and mainstream environmentalconsiderations into the daily lives of people anddecision makers.For biodiversity conservation and sustainable living tobecome part of the daily thinking and actions of all people,it needs to be mainstreamed into our daily way of life.The environment is often seen as a luxury that can onlybe considered when all other needs have been taken careof. However, the environment provides the services andgoods that we depend on for survival, such as the foodwe eat, the water we drink and the air that we breathe,and is therefore fundamental to our existence. As such,environmental considerations should be part and parcel ofevery decision we take. The EWT aims to encourage societyto embrace this approach by supporting the incorporationof biodiversity conservation into South Africa’s NationalEducation Curriculum, supporting tertiary education andundertaking environmental education and awareness aspart of the daily activities of all our Working Groups andProgrammes. Furthermore, it devotes time and resourcesto ensuring that biodiversity conservation is communicatedto the public at large. The EWT’s communications strategyhas identified key audiences for these messages and strivesto reach them in ways that ensure maximum assimilationand understanding.This Strategic Imperative is primarily addressed throughthe EWT’s IT4Conservation Group, Law & Policy WorkingGroup, Wildlife Conflict Prevention Group and BiodiversityStewardship South Africa Programme.EWT support for the National CurriculumThe EWT’s Conservation Leadership Group (EWT-CLG)focuses on supporting the National Curriculum through itsEnvironmental Education Programme and a large portionof its Rural Eco Warrior Programme. In 2009, the Groupworked with and trained teachers in KwaZulu-Natal,Mpumalanga and the North West Province on integratingenvironmental concepts such as reducing, re-using andrecycling into their teaching. Furthermore, the BiodiversityEnvironmental Education Programme (BEEP) was rolled outin Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on teachertraining. Educator workshops were held on biodiversityand appropriate educational methods in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Zululand and Mpumalanga. Thesewere attended by a total of 47 educators, two municipalrepresentatives and representatives from the departmentof Agriculture and Land Affairs, the Department ofEducation and the Wildlife and Environment Societyof South Africa (WESSA). In addition, two workshopswere conducted at Swartruggens in the North WestHaving spent several days in the hills and valleys aroundUlundi the Veggie pack Wild Dog males have once again leftHluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. They crossed the R34 highway andentered the Zulu royal heartland of the Emakhosini valleybefore moving south to Mtonjaneni. What could have beena public relations disaster, as the dogs were guilty of killing acow, was saved by the proactive and enthusiastic approachof members of the Melmoth Conservancy. Despite thelivestock loss, the energetic, good-humoured and selflessassistance to locate the dogs, and track them north, as theyshot across the landscape into the mists that envelopedBabanango’s farms and plantations, was unexpected andgreatly welcome. I was expecting a ‘klap’ and instead gotoffered coffee and an extra few sets of eyes and hands.It’s encouraging to know that despite the persecutionthat Wild Dogs face, in much of their home ranges, thereare still farming communities that can see beyond theoccasional negative and believe that co-operation and asensible, conservation oriented approach to landscapemanagement can reap benefits.Brendan Whittington-JonesField Officer: KwaZulu-Natal Wild Dog Project,EWT-CCG26

province. The first workshop focused on EnvironmentalEducation within the curriculum and was attended byseven educators from three different schools. The second,attended by five educators from three different schools,focused on water and cardboard recycling. Educators werealso trained in the use of a resource for water conservation,specifically developed for the workshops. Three interactive,presentation based ‘Mini Summits’ were held wherelearners from schools report back to the audience (otherschools) on their biodiversity educational projects and havetheir projects evaluated.The Eco-Schools Programme is an internationally recognisedaward scheme that accredits schools that commit tocontinually improving their school’s environment. TheProgramme is designed to encourage curriculum-basedaction for a healthy environment and aims to supportschools with better environmental learning and improvedenvironmental management. In South Africa the Eco-Schools Programme has developed as a partnershipbetween WESSA and the National Department of Education.The EWT’s Riverine Rabbit Working Group (EWT-RRWG) isthe Eco-Schools node in the Riverine Rabbit’s distributionrange. Through this node, three schools were supportedin environmental learning, lesson planning, hands-on andoutdoor activities in 2009. Van Rensburg Primary Schoolin Britstown earned their green flag for the second yearrunning in 2009. This is a remarkable achievement as itmeant fulfilling the Programme requirements under threedifferent themes, an undertaking that required a greatdeal of commitment and time. The school chose thethemes, namely Nature and Biodiversity, Resource Use andHealthy Living. Under the Nature and Biodiversity themeteachers constructed lesson plans and activities to educatelearners about alien plants, and planted indigenous treesin celebration of National Arbor Week. They also used theEWT-RRWG’s Karoo Life picture-building game to learn moreabout the Critically Endangered Riverine Rabbit Bunolagusmonticularis and the environment that supports it. Underthe Resource Use theme learners did water and resource useand health audits for their school. They also started a wasteproject through which learners were encouraged to bringtheir household waste to school with the aim of startinga recycling project in 2010. The school, with the help ofthe EWT-RRWG, hopes to obtain the municipality’s help inproviding drums for waste separation and collecting thewaste. Under the Healthy Living theme the school extendedtheir existing vegetable garden, allowing the learners tolearn more about planting and the factors supporting plantgrowth. The theme also included lesson plans on HIV AIDSand TB, health issues that are of concern in the area.EWT support for tertiary educationThe EWT-CLG’s Conservation Training Programme (CTP)trains and mentors selected distance learning studentsenrolled for a National Diploma in Nature Conservationthrough the University of South Africa (UNISA) by providingthem with work integrated learning experience. There isa great need for help to provide these students with thediploma’s required one year experiential learning. Thus,while UNISA offers the academic training, the EWT fills thegap of practical training by offering selected students anumber of field-based camps over a period of one year.These camps focus on topics relevant to the diploma, suchas soil erosion, veld management and fire management,amongst others. The CTP is designed to develop wellroundedprofessionals and therefore includes capacitybuildingtraining modules such as communication skills,life and social interaction skills and computer skills.The CTP accommodated between 14 and 18 studentsduring 2009. Camps held focused on soil conservationand law enforcement. Seventeen CTP students attended aone-week environmental compliance and law enforcementworkshop featuring lectures presented by EWT staff, aMagistrate, an environmental advocate, the South AfricanPolice Services (SAPS) dog unit and a Gauteng Departmentof Agriculture and Rural Development EnvironmentalManagement Inspector (EMI). UNISA is now consideringincluding these training materials into their currentconservation curriculum.At the end of the year, three students had completed theacademic component of their studies and two studentswill complete a six-month probation at the EnkosiniWildlife Reserve in Mpumalanga in 2010, after which theymay become permanently employed. Another three willcomplete internships at the Johannesburg Zoo.Students selected to participate in the CTP are mostly atthe diploma level and are thus not required to conductformal research. They are however required to collectand assess data through monitoring projects and mustbe able to describe their study area, undertake anynecessary interventions to improve the area based on dataanalyses and interpret their observations. In support of thisrequirement, UNISA’s Applied Behavioural, Ecological &Ecosystem Research Unit has committed to help the CTPset up fixed vegetation and plant community plots in 2010.The CTP students will then be able to collect data with theassistance of the EWT-CLG staff, for use in their requiredprojects. Through this project the CTP students’ capacityis being further enhanced, while over time this data couldgrow in importance and be offered to B.Tech and M.Techstudents for their continued studies.The EWT is in the process of obtaining accreditation as atraining institution from the Tourism, Hospitality & SportEducation & Training Authority (THETA). This accreditationwill allow the EWT to formally offer approved courses forwhich it may then issue a recognised qualification to coursegraduates. The first THETA approved course to be offeredwill be based on the learning support materials within theCTP.General education and awarenessOur Birds of Prey Working Group (EWT-BoPWG) KwaZulu-Natal Vulture Awareness Initiative has regular discussionson integrating issues around vulture conservation into theschool curriculum. Through this initiative, pamphlets andeducational material on vulture conservation have beenshared with Lesotho to raise awareness within the publicand schools around vulture related issues in that country,too. The Bearded Vulture’s distribution range is along theDrakensberg Escarpment, which includes Lesotho, andas such it is important to work with this country on anyconservation initiatives for the species. Furthermore, theEWT-BoPWG, in partnership with a number of foreign andlocal associates, established and continues to promoteInternational Vulture Awareness Day in September eachyear. A website and Facebook event were launched in2009. In total 152 countries participated in this event andthe website received 2 968 unique visitors in 2009.Through the EWT-BoPWG’s Free State Raptor Project,monthly educational talks were presented to small schoolsfrom the farming communities in the Bloemfontein areain 2009 about the value of raptors. The Group’s KalahariRaptor Project launched an eco-awareness and public cooperationconservation programme in the lower OrangeRiver and Bushmanland area in 2009. The EWT-BoPWG alsotrained staff of the Wildlands Conservation Trust on raptorconservation in 2009, to integrate raptor conservationprinciples into their work and thus also into the Zululandcommunities where they work.The EWT-CLG’s Rural Eco Warrior Programme engagescommunity members in various environmental projects,helping them to improve their direct environment throughthe sustainable utilisation and ongoing conservation oflocally threatened species. The Rural Eco Warriors (REWs)are members of their communities and so understand thelocal sensitivities and needs, enabling the communities toidentify pertinent environmental issues and implementsustainable solutions in a manner that best suits theircircumstances, while often providing opportunities forsocial upliftment. In 2009, REWs were stationed in theKwaZulu-Natal midlands and Jozini, Dullstroom andBreyton in Mpumalanga, Vaalwater in Limpopo andSannieshof and Garankuwa in the North West Province.Within the EWT-CLG’s Community Based Natural ResourceManagement Programme, almost all the REWs identifiedan additional community project in 2009. Projects focuson the wise use of communal wetlands, communityprotection and wise use of natural indigenous forests,greening and re-forestation of degraded areas, recyclingand other community managed ‘green jobs’.The EWT’s Threatened Grassland Species Programme(EWT-TGSP) presented on the importance of grasslandsto two school groups from the Pietermaritzburg area anda further seven presentations were given to the forestryindustry, landowners, provincial conservation authoritiesand other interested parties during conservation days.The EWT-TGSP in collaboration with the InternationalCrane Foundation / EWT Partnership for African Cranes,presented a poster entitled The EWT and Forestry: Workingtogether to save Oribi, Blue Swallows and Cranes at theGrassland, Timber and Fire Symposium.Landowners are one of the biggest stakeholders in theconservation work undertaken by the EWT, as this sectorcan have a major impact on species and habitat, but alsohas the potential to actively conserve biodiversity outside offormal conservation areas. The annual NAMPO agriculturalshow is thus one of the biggest platforms for us to engage2829

Key Highlights• The Biodiversity Environmental Education Programme (BEEP) wasrolled out in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on teachertraining.• With the EWT’s support, Van Rensburg Primary School in Britstownearned their Eco Schools green flag for the second year runningin 2009.with this important group. In 2009, the show attracted 632exhibitors and over 60 000 visitors. The EWT once againmanned a stand, to create awareness of the conservationissues relevant to landowners and expanding its networkswithin this community.EWT education and awareness materialsThe EWT has a number of materials that promote biodiversityconservation and educate the public about biodiversityconservation issues. These are available in either print oronline format and include games, pamphlets, booklets,posters and puzzles. Each Working Group or Programmealso produces a regular newsletter, while the EWT-BoPWGalso produces two scientific journals entitled Vulture Newsand Gabar and the ICF / EWT Partnership for African Cranesproduces one journal entitled Indwe. One combined 2009edition of the usual two annual editions of Vulture News willbe published in the first half of 2010, while two issues ofGabar and one issue of Indwe were distributed in 2009.• The EWT-BoPWG has produced 24 raptor informationleaflets, available on the EWT website www.ewt.org.za .• The EWT-CLG has two field offices, one in Howickand one at Treverton Preparatory School and Collegein the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. The Treverton officehas a small Environmental Education and Educationfor Sustainable Development library, while the Howickoffice has a library of reference materials related toactivities that the Rural Eco Warriors are implementing.The EWT head office in Johannesburg has an extensivenatural history library that is useful to the ConservationTraining Programme students and that can bereferenced for the development of learning supportmaterials for the Programme.• The ICF / EWT Partnership for African Cranes hasdeveloped a set of pamphlets related to cranes, theirhabitat and the threats facing them, useful to farmersand members of the public with an interest in cranes.It also began development of a picture building gamelinked strongly to the crane trade in 2009, whichwill be targeted at local communities and schools toencourage discussion around key issues facing cranes.• The EWT-RRWG has Riverine Rabbit informationpamphlets, stickers, posters on Riverine Rabbitidentification and a game called Karoo Life, whichserves as a tool to educate learners on the threats to theKaroo habitat and the Riverine Rabbit. The informationpamphlets were translated from English into Afrikaansin 2009, while an Eco-Schools node poster was alsodeveloped.• The EWT-WCPG produced a Predators and Farmersbooklet in English a number of years ago, which wasupdated in 2007 and translated into Afrikaans andisiZulu in 2009. The Group also updated its OxpeckerManual in 2009, listing the latest oxpecker compatibledipping chemicals.• New materials developed by the EWT-BoPWG in2009 include a sign board at a national roost site formigrating falcons, a poster and pamphlet series on theSaddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis, abooklet on large birds that is used by Kruger NationalPark rangers to identify raptors and report these to theEWT-BoPWG, and a raptor field monitoring manual,which is in final stages of production.• The EWT-CLG produced a booklet on marine reptilesthrough WESSA ShareNet. The ShareNet materials aremade available to educators free of copyright.• The EWT-CLG also contributed to the redevelopmentof three WESSA Enviro Fact Sheets related to MarineMammals and reptiles.• The EWT-CLG mentored a UNISA Nature ConservationStudent through a booklet development processresulting in a booklet on Pedi indigenous knowledgeand cultural use of trees.• A level 2 accredited First Aid reference module andassessment booklet was developed by a UNISAstudent, again mentored by the EWT-CLG.• A comprehensive educational resource and learningsupport material focusing on water was developed forteachers, covering grades R to 7.• A number of environmental games was drafted during2009 and, though not formally published, these havebeen used in the EWT-CLG’s education, training andawareness activities.• The EWT-CLG developed a jigsaw puzzle highlightingits field staff and the issues that they address in theirvarious focus communities. This was used to raiseawareness about the Group’s work and was usedas a communication tool by the EWT’s fundraisingdepartment and during the annual ConservationWeek open day.• The EWT Marine & Coastal Working Groupdeveloped interpretive signage for the boardwalkat the eChwebeni Site of Conservation Significancein Richard’s Bay, while educational posters, activitysheets for learners visiting the site, and a site overviewpamphlet was developed for visitors of all ages.Stories from the fieldThe 14th of November 2009 was one of those disappointingdays. On my way to Bachana Mokwena School in Ga-Rankuwa View, I encountered a dog in a very shockingcondition. That dog was either homeless or abandoned. Icalled the SPCA and told them about the dog so that theycould collect it.This made me realise that there is a great need forenvironmental education in schools and communities.Later that day, I went to my ECO-CLUB class to offer anenvironmental lesson. As the lesson went on I showed mylearners the picture of the dog, and to my surprise theywere not as shocked as I was, and they introduced the topicof witchcraft. Some learners immediately said that it was awitching dog. One learner stood up and said one day at hishome they killed a cat during the night and the followingmorning his uncle had passed away. The learners alsobelieved that chameleons and owls are also witches.I therefore taught them that chameleons change coloursto camouflage with their surroundings, and owls arenocturnal birds of prey that are active during the night.The belief in witchcraft and superstition is still very highin communities and in schools there is still a big need forenvironmental education.Amos LetsoaloRural Eco Warrior: EWT-CLG3031

Conservation ActivitiesReport back on progress towards implementing theEWT Conservation Strategy2008 – 2013STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE 5:Explore and develop opportunities for mentorship andcapacity building within the conservation sector.The conservation sector in South Africa suffers from ashortage of skills, capacity and experience. Inadequateexposure to the sector in the National EducationCurriculum, and poor quality of training, together with alack of economic and career incentives and appropriatementorship in this sector are largely to blame. Historically,conservation was seen as a luxury and it is still oftenassociated with the white government of the apartheid era.Furthermore, many people are removed from the naturalenvironment and therefore do not see themselves as beinga part of it. These issues need to be addressed if we are toprotect the environment for future generations.This Strategic Imperative is primarily addressed throughthe EWT’s Conservation Leadership Group, Law & PolicyWorking Group and Riverine Rabbit Working.MentorshipThe EWT Conservation Leadership Group (EWT-CLG) RuralEco Warriors help the rural communities, of which they areKey Highlights• The EWT helped and trained a small rural community in the Wa-terberg Mountains to clear a 74 hectare wetland of alien plantsand protect a spring in the area from being damaged by the community’scattle. The community now has access to clean waterfrom the wetland for supplementary drinking and washing, and afenced off area can be used for emergency grazing for cattle.• A group of local Karoo men were trained in rehabilitationtechniques and were subsequently employed to apply theirknowledge.themselves members, to improve their direct environmentand ensure the sustainable utilisation and ongoingconservation of threatened species. Within the Programmethere is a strong emphasis on group mentorship and,thus, each year all REW staff visit one of their fellow REWsand spend a few days helping this person to address keyenvironmental issues in this area. Through a formalisedprocess they interrogate planning and implementationand offer advice. The REW Co-ordinator furthermore actsas a mentor by training the REWs on procedures andadministration.The EWT’s field-based staff often work in isolation asthey are situated in remote areas. As such, staff fromthe Welgevonden Nature Reserve fulfil a valuablementorship role for the Vaalwater Rural Eco Warrior, whileconservation staff at Barberspan support and mentor theRural Eco Warrior from Sannieshof. Staff from the NationalZoological Gardens Education Department mentor theGarankuwa Rural Eco Warrior.All Working Group managers have the opportunity torequest input from their fellow managers through adedicated Conservation Management Team meeting,which is held once a month. This is another form of peermentorship practiced within the EWT to ensure a highquality of projects.Capacity buildingThe EWT-CLG, through its Conservation TrainingProgramme (CTP), worked with a small rural communityin the Waterberg Mountains in 2008 and 2009. During thefirst year, a number of the CTP students helped the Telekeshicommunity to clear a 74 hectare wetland of alien plantsand protect a spring in the area from being damaged bythe community’s cattle, by erecting a fence. CTP studentsgained valuable experience through this project, while thecommunity now has access to clean water from the wetlandfor supplementary drinking and washing, and the fenced offarea will be used for emergency grazing for cattle. Not onlyhas the environment been improved, but the project hasalso contributed to enabling the community to continueusing these natural resources in a sustainable way.Linked to the Telekeshi project is an eco-tourism ventureincorporating a guided trail to the area’s Iron Age and RockAge sites. There is also basic accommodation and the entireventure is run by the Telekeshi community. In 2009, theEWT-CLG and UNISA published a booklet on the culturalheritage and indigenous knowledge of the Pedi peopleof Telekeshi entitled The Roots and Trees of the Telekeshi.This booklet will be formally published and presented tothe community as a means to generate income throughsales to tourists visiting the area. For more on this tourismventure and to make bookings, contact Malesela on 083612 7845 or Lindani Game Lodge on 014 755 4336.The EWT-CLG mentored a UNISA Nature Conservationstudent at Treveton Preparatory School & College during2009. The EWT-CLG’s Environmental Education Leaderis also the environmental officer for Treverton and in thiscapacity is offered the opportunity to mentor a studentevery year. One of the EWT’s CTP students was chosen in2009, which worked out well as the student was offereda full year’s mentorship instead of the usual six months.Through this opportunity the EWT was able to expandon its previous training and capacity building offering toinclude formal mentorship, and aims to further expandon this in future. The student worked on a wide range ofconservation and education activities and with a diversityof people and the mentorship fulfilled all the in-servicework integrated learning requirements for her studies.The EWT’s Riverine Rabbit Working Group (EWT-RRWG)Riparian Habitat Rehabilitation project created manycapacity building opportunities. A group of local menwas trained in rehabilitation and subsequently employedto apply their knowledge. Farmers were also trainedon rehabilitation methods and the maintenance ofrehabilitation sites. Thus, while the EWT-RRWG’s primaryaim is to protect habitat for the Critically EndangeredRiverine Rabbit Bunolagus monticularis, the community alsobenefits from this training as it will help them to protectthe natural resources on which their livestock depend.In 2009, the EWT-L&PWG liaised extensively with theDepartment of Health to solicit their co-operation inmaking available all reports regarding human contact withpesticides used for poaching and persecution of damagecausing animals. The Group also initiated training forMetro Police, Environmental Managment Inspectors (EMI)and Johannesburg Zoo staff regarding poison identificationand related issues, initiated engagement with the head ofthe EMI training programme to request that hazardoussubstance legislation be included in the training ofenforcement officers and state prosecutors. This will helpto address the increasing illegal use of pesticides in animalrelated crimes.The Regional Programme of the Management ofSustainability is an executive seminar for senior officialsfrom the public, private and non-profit sectors to assistin the development of strategies to meet the challengesof sustainability today, through effective negotiation andconflict resolution. It teaches the use of the Mutual Gains3233

Approach to negotiation to achieve long-term solutionsthat integrate the needs of development and conservationand the adaptation to local needs which will see theintegration of South African case studies and a short courseon Community Based Natural Resource Management.The EWT, in partnership with the Sustainability ChallengeFoundation (SCF), and through funding provided by theWK Kellogg Foundation, ran the first part of this coursein 2008. The followup seminar was held in January 2009,where participants reported back on their experienceof implementing the mutual gains approach in theirworkspace, highlighting challenges and successes.All the EWT’s field staff attended training during the EWT’sConservation Week in 2009. This covered topics such asbehaviour change facilitation, biodiversity stewardship,conservation legislation and fundraising, which werespecifically requested by the staff to support their work.Training needs identified for the conservationsectorThe Environmental Sector Skills Plan (ESSP), commissionedby the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), aims tohighlight skill shortages in the environmental sector andprovide opportunities for NGOs and the private sector todevelop and provide the required skills to fill gaps. RhodesUniversity is driving the project. The EWT-CLG participatedby providing information regarding the functioning of itsConservation Training Programme and the gaps that itaddresses. The final document will be released in 2010 andthe EWT will then have the opportunity to fill identifiedgaps.The EWT-RRWG identified a need for farmers and farmworkers to be trained in sustainable farming practices suchas predator management, veld rehabilitation methods,eradication of alien invasive plant species, eco-tourism, tourguiding and business management. To date, informationhas been gathered around livestock-predator conflictissues, but no training programme has been implementedto specifically address these issues. The Department ofWater Affairs (DWA) will be contacted in early 2010 todiscuss alien invasive plants training, while eco-tourismtraining has been discussed with Open Africa and willbe addressed as soon as the development of the KarooHighland Route starts. The Karoo indigenous nursery issituated in Loxton and established to grow plants for therehabilitation of destroyed Karoo riparian vegetation. Tourguiding on the nursery grounds, and outside the nursery,has been identified as a need and some internal trainingwas given to the nursery workers. An EWT-RRWG volunteerwas sent on a field guide introductory course.During 2009, the EWT’s Law & Policy Working Groupconducted a gap analysis and produced a scoping reportto assess the strengths and weaknesses of governmentstructures to enforce and implement environmentallegislation across the various levels. The report identifiedpreliminary training initiatives, specifically regarding thelack of experience by the South African Police Service(SAPS) and court officials when dealing with environmentalissues. DWA has initiated training workshops for StateProsecutors, although currently attendance is purelyvoluntary. Meetings have been planned with the Deanof the SAPS training college to enquire whether the EWTmight be able to facilitate training on legislative issues. Thepreliminary findings of the report, published in draft formin December 2009, also identified the need for furthertraining of Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs)in areas such as taking statements, opening dockets andsecuring crime scenes, as well as basic training such as bird,reptile and cycad identification. The next step is to facilitatetraining in all of these areas. Furthermore, a much more indepthinvestigation will be done during 2010. Experiencegained during this scoping exercise has illustrated theimportance of direct contact and the personal touch.Stories from the fieldAfter matriculating from Dimani Agricultural HighSchool in my home town Shayandima, LimpopoProvince, I found myself uncertain which career pathto follow. I wanted to do so many things and all forthe wrong reasons. I then came across a course calledNature Conservation and enrolled for it. At that stage Iknew nothing about nature or about the course I hadchosen, in other words I was clueless!During my first year of studies a friend introduced me tothe Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Conservation LeadershipGroup. I joined their Conservation Training Programmeand went on my first camp at Barberspan Bird Sanctuary.I had fun and learnt a great deal, but was at the sametime intimidated by the senior students, who seemed toknow everything! They could identify birds by their calls,feathers and habitat preferences and identify differenttrees and grasses, and I thought I’d never be able todo that. I had no idea that there are different types ofgrasses and trees, for me there was no difference, it alllooked the same.By the time the camp ended I had learned the nameof one bird, the African Hoopoe, one grass, Themedatriandra and one tree, Acacia karroo. I was very pleasedwith myself and I couldn’t wait for the next camp. Itwas then that I realised that conservation was not justworking at the zoo or as a ranger.After becoming part of the EWT-CLG I really beganenjoying conservation. I was not ashamed to tell peoplewhat I was studying, and I was at last able to answerquestions about my career choice. By my second campI began mastering all the techniques of identifyingdifferent species, from grasses to mammals.Sharing my experiences with the rest of the group, Ifound we all felt the same way and we went from beinga bunch of clueless conservation students to one bighappy family. We made one another’s success our priorityand helped one another understand the concepts. Ifthat is not a family then tell me what is!I have done many crazy things (according to my friends)since joining the EWT-CLG such as river cleanups duringmarine conservation week, game counts, water qualitytesting, vegetation surveys, plant identification, soilerosion control, alien plant control and many otherimportant things. I now have a better understanding ofthese conservation activities that other people think arecrazy. It’s actually a victory, an achievement, and a greatexperience to have been able to do these activities, andI would do it again and again until people hear andunderstand why.I would like to thank all the people who create suchwonderful experiences for the students and afford themsuch amazing experiences. For me being part of theEWT-CLG family has been an empowering experienceand the one that will last a lifetime.Thank you, Conservation Leadership Group!Vhulahani Lilian Mushiana,Conservation Training Programme student: EWT-CLG3435

Conservation ActivitiesReport back on progress towards implementing theEWT Conservation Strategy2008 – 2013STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE 6:Provide a leadership role in ensuring efficient andadequate implementation, compliance and enforcementof conservation legislation.South Africa has a suite of high quality enablingenvironmental legislation that is unfortunately not yetreturning the intended benefits. Implementation andenforcement of this legislation is often hampered by poordecision-making at national, provincial and municipallevels, insufficient penalties, lack of financial and humanresource capacity, corruption and the lack of integration ofenvironmental issues across all sectors. The EWT proactivelyaddresses this by providing support to government sectorsthrough expertise, networks and toolkits. Data collectedthrough the EWT’s various Working Groups assists insupporting calls for development of new legislation andenforcement.This Strategic Imperative is primarily addressed throughthe EWT’s Law & Policy Working Group, Marine & CoastalWorking Group and Riverine Rabbit Working Group.EWT support for efficient implementation ofenvironmental legislationAt the end of 2009, the EWT’s Marine & Coastal WorkingGroup (EWT-MCWG) embarked on a three year fisheriestrade project with TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa. Theproject aims to strengthen enforcement and compliancemeasures for trade in key seafood species and will identifyspecies that are traded between Mozambique and SouthAfrica. An aspect of this project will explore the strengthsand weaknesses of government structures in Mozambiqueand South Africa in the enforcement and implementation ofseafood trade legislation. This will inform the developmentof training workshops to be held in 2010.Furthermore, the EWT’s Law & Policy Working Group(EWT-LPWG) was contracted by TRAFFIC East/SouthernAfrica to assist in the development of an electronicuser’s guide on the collection and analysis of data forfish and fish products in international trade. The manualwill provide government officials at the Department ofEnvironmental Affairs and Tourism, South African RevenueService, Marine and Coastal Management, South AfricanBiodiversity Institute, and identified provincial conservationagencies with the tools to source and analyse data on theinternational trade in fish and fish products. The guide willbe officially launched in 2010.Key HighlightsThe EWT’s Riverine Rabbit Working Group (EWT-RRWG)worked very closely with CapeNature and the NorthernCape Department of Environment in 2009, in particulararound stewardship. Land claims in the KromrivierConservancy area resulted in communal farmers beingawarded land and the EWT-RRWG is working with thesefarmers to make sure they abide by conservancy rules, inorder to ensure ongoing conservation, whilst at the sametime supporting them to live sustainably off their land.The EWT-LPWG began the process of collecting relevantenvironmental cases from the various provinces todetermine factors influencing success and failure in termsof prosecuting environmental criminals. It is developinga database component within the EWT’s KnowledgeManagement System for capturing specific cases for futureanalysis and reporting.The EWT-LPWG also drafted a document indicating thevarious national and provincial environmental legislations• TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa contracted the EWT to help develop anelectronic user’s guide on the collection and analysis of data for fishand fish products in international trade. This will provide governmentofficials with the tools to source and analyse data on the internationaltrade in fish and fish products.• The EWT drafted a chapter on the regulatory framework applicable toLions in South Africa, as part of a proposal to the then Department ofEnvironmental Affairs and Tourism, for the resolution of issues relatingto the hunting of captive raised predators.relevant to activities undertaken by Eskom staff. Thiswill assist the EWT’s Wildlife Energy Interaction Group inadvising Eskom on compliance with legislation relevant toit.The EWT-LPWG, through its Compliance and EnforcementProject, was involved in a number of investigations aroundenvironmental crimes. Some highlights were:• The Group helped the International Crane Foundation/ EWT Partnership for African Cranes initiate criminalinvestigations into the smuggling of Grey CrownedCranes Balearica regulorum through meetings with theGauteng Environmental Management Inspectors;• It assisted the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation WorkingGroup regarding a complaint concerning the allegedillegal killing of African Wild Dogs Lycaon pictus inLimpopo by liaising with the Enforcement Officer whowas assigned to investigate the case. There has beenno news as to the fate of the dogs yet;37

• It investigated the lack of enforcement and complianceat the Mai-Mai and Faraday muthi markets in Gautengand ascertained that an instruction from the MEC in2003 prohibited enforcement in either of the twomarkets. This is an ongoing issue and will require moremeetings and workshops in 2010;• The Group received a complaint regarding acid minedecanting in the West Rand and together with anotherinterested party, investigated the issue. The waterbasin that feeds the Cradle of Human Kind and theKrugersdorp Nature Reserve has been severely affected.The EWT-LPWG renders support as necessary.Development of environmental legislationDuring 2009, the EWT-LPWG analysed draft legislationpublished for public comment and co-ordinated theformulation and submission of specialist commentssubmitted by the EWT on the following:• The latest proposed amendments to the NationalEnvironmental Management Act, 107 of 1998,Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations,published during April 2009;• The draft Norms and Standards for Hunting in SouthAfrica;• The draft Alien and Invasive Species Regulations andLists, drafted in terms of the National EnvironmentalManagement Biodiversity Act, 10 of 2004;• The draft Convention on International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) Regulations, drafted in terms of the NationalEnvironmental Management Biodiversity Act., 10 of2004 and• The draft Regulations for the proper administrationof Nature Reserves, drafted in terms of the NationalEnvironmental Management Protected Areas Act, 57of 2003.• The Green Paper for National Strategic Planning.• The draft National List of Threatened Ecosystems,drafted in terms of the National EnvironmentalManagement Biodiversity Act, 10 of 2004.• The draft Minimum Standards for the Managementof Captive Elephants, drafted in terms of the NationalEnvironmental Management Biodiversity Act, 10 of2004.In addition, the EWT-LPWG undertook the following:• Drafted a chapter on the regulatory frameworkapplicable to Lions Panthera leo in South Africa, as partof a proposal to the then Department of EnvironmentalAffairs and Tourism (DEAT) for the resolution of issuesrelating to the hunting of captive raised predators;• Assisted the EWT’s Conservation Breeding SpecialistGroup Southern Africa (CBSG SA) with compilingthe section on relevant legislation for inclusion in theBriefing Document for a Lion Bovine TuberculosisWorkshop.Empowering society on the subject ofenvironmental rightsThe Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Toolkitis a web-based tool developed by the EWT’s Law& Policy Working Group in 2006 and located atwww.eiatoolkit.ewt.org.za. It incorporates process flowcharts, answers to frequently asked questions, documenttemplates, general and targeted information, practical tips,case studies and sections on how to consider biodiversityand other environmental concerns in the EIA process.It also contains contact details for relevant governmentofficials in order to facilitate direct communicationbetween civil society and government and provides civilsociety with the necessary knowledge of the EIA process,in order to participate meaningfully during the publicparticipation process.The introduction of mining as a listed activity regulatedby the EIA Regulations and National EnvironmentalManagement Act has recently resulted in significantamendments being proposed. As such, the existing EIAregulations are likely to be substantially amended and theEWT has identified an even greater need for assistanceto civil society in understanding and participating in thepublic participation process, specifically for prospectingand mining. The EWT-LPWG is therefore expanding andreviewing the EIA Toolkit so that this resource will not onlycapacitate stakeholders towards improved participationin the EIA process, including mining, in South Africa, butwill also allow for much greater input from the public inenvironmental decision making.The EWT-LPWG provides the names and contact details ofrelevant government officials mandated with complianceand enforcement to civil society, so helping them lodgeissues of alleged non-compliance with the relevantdepartment.Stories from the fieldWhen I started working for the Endangered Wildlife Trustand asked about Blue Swallow monitoring, Andre Rossouwtold me that what you do is crawl into the holes and checkthe progress with nest building, number of eggs, chicksetc. This surprised me somewhat, as when I went out tomonitor the nesting sites most of the birds used old miningshafts and sinkholes, some of which are more than fourmetres deep!My first sighting of Blue Swallows was on a monitoring tripin the Graskop area. When I came out of one of the holes,the birds were calling and swooping near the entrance. Itwas amazing to see how shiny and blue their wings are. Ihad seen many Black Saw Wings before (often confusedwith Blue Swallows), but these birds do not compare tothe beauty of the Blues. Even more exciting is seeing theprogress with nest building and breeding – this makescrawling into holes so worth it!On one occasion, while I was out monitoring, the mist wasso thick that I had to take a GPS reading of my bakkieso that I could find it again. I am now used to havingconstantly wet socks and shoes and being covered in dirtfrom climbing into nesting sites. I am also trying to getused to the looks I get at shopping centres when I stop inafter a monitoring session looking like something that thecat dragged in!What is exciting is that there is obviously still a lot we don’tknow about these birds, which makes monitoring them allthe more important and necessary for their survival.Leigh PotterField Officer: EWT-TGSP Mpumalanga3839

Project List 2009Airport Wildlife Working GroupClaire Patterson-Abrolat, Working Group Co-ordinator,clairep@ewt.org.za.• Bird Strike Avoidance Programme.Biodiversity Stewardship South AfricaClaire Taylor, Working Group Co-ordinator (2009).Please contact Christine Mentzel, EWT Conservation Managerfor more on this project at christinem@ewt.org.za.• Development of National Framework for BiodiversityStewardship.Birds of Prey Working GroupAndre Botha, Working Group Manager,andreb@ewt.org.za.Tanya Fouche, Senior Administrator,tanyaf@ewt.org.za.• Sasol Vulture Monitoring Project consisting of:• Eastern Cape Vulture Monitoring. Kate Webster,Volunteer Field Officer, katew@lantic.net.• Vulture Restaurants. Andre Botha, WorkingGroup Manager, andreb@ewt.org.za.• KZN Vulture Project. Sonja Krueger, VolunteerField Officer, Skruger@kznwildlife.com.• Northern Cape Vulture Project. MarkAnderson, Volunteer Field Officer,director@birdlife.co.za.• Swaziland Vulture Project. Prof. AraMonadjem, Volunteer Field Officer,ara@uniswacc.uniswa.sz.• Blouberg Vulture Project. Johan van Wyk,Volunteer Field Officer,jsvanwyk@absamail.co.za.• Potberg Vulture Project. Kevin Shaw, VolunteerField Officer, shawka@capenature.co.za.• Bushveld Vulture Project. Kerri Wolter, VolunteerField Officer, kerri.wolter@gmail.com.• Namibia Vulture Project. Peter Bridgeford,Vounteer Field Officer, pmbridge@iway.na.• Bearded Vulture Task Force. Sonja Krueger, VolunteerField Officer, Skruger@kznwildlife.com.• Taita Falcon Project. Dr Andrew Jenkins, Volunteer FieldOfficer, Andrew.Jenkins@uct.ac.za .• Zurich Kalahari Raptor Project. Abrie Maritz, Field Assistant- Kalahari. abriem@webmail.co.za.• Lowveld/KNP Large Bird Project. Scott Ronaldson, SeniorField Officer – Lowveld, scottr@ewt.org.za or Marcellevan Hoven for the Saddle-billed Stork Project, StudentResearcher, storks@ewt.org.za.• Breede River Fish Eagle Project. Dr Andrew Jenkins, VolunteerField Officer, Andrew.Jenkins@uct.ac.za.• Platberg Karoo Raptor Project. Ronelle Visagie, Field Assistant– Platberg Karoo, ronellev@ewt.org.za.• Migratory Kestrel Project. Anthony van Zyl, VolunteerField Officer, azyl@slb.com.• Urban Raptor Project. Boudewyn van der Lecq, VolunteerField Officer, raptors@metroweb.co.za.• Anglo-Coal Grass Owl Project. Mattheuns Pretorius, StudentResearcher, matt.pretorius@archape.co.za.• Crowned Eagle Action Group. Dave Steyn, VolunteerField Officer, davesteyn@absamail.co.za.• Pel’s Fishing Owl Survey. Andre Botha, Working GroupManager, andreb@ewt.org.za.• Hoogland Raptor Project. Dr Pieter Koornhof, VolunteerField Officer, koornhof@intekom.co.za.• South Western Cape Raptor Project. Koos de Goede,Volunteer Field Officer, degoedej@global.co.za.• Free State Raptor Project. Alma Fuller, Volunteer FieldOfficer, fullerkomplot@iburst.co.za.• Bushveld Raptor Project. Arnaud le Roux, Animalhealth and Vegetation Management Co-ordinator,oxpecker@ewt.org.za.Carnivore Conservation GroupHarriet Davies-Mostert, Working Group Manager (2009),harrietd@ewt.org.za.Kelly Marnewick, Working Group Manager (2010),kellym@ewt.org.za .Marion Burger, Senior Administrator,marionb@ewt.org.za.• Venetia Limpopo Wild Dog Project. John Power, FieldOfficer – Venetia Limpopo Wild Dog Project (2009).Contact Kelly Marnewick, Working Group Manager(2010), kellym@ewt.org.za.• Wild Dog Metapopulation Assessment. Harriet Davies-Mostert, Working Group Manager Manager (2009),harrietd@ewt.org.za.• KwaZulu-Natal Wild Dog Project. Sithembiso Ndlovu,Field Assistant - Limpopo (2009) and BrendanWhittington-Jones, Programme Officer – KwaZulu-NatalWild Dog Project, brendanw@ewt.org.za.• Wild Dog Metapopulation Genetics. Janet Edwards, FieldOfficer – Wild Dog Genetics (2009),janete@ewt.org.za.• Northern Tuli Wild Dog Project. Craig Jackson (2009).Contact Kelly Marnewick, Working Group Manager(2010), kellym@ewt.org.za.• Western Kalahari Wild Dog Project. Binah Motlogelwa(2009). Contact Kelly Marnewick, Working Group Manager(2010), kellym@ewt.org.za.• Wild Dog & Cheetah Photographic Census. MarionBurger, Administrator, marionb@ewt.org.za.• Wild Dog & Cheetah National Action Planning.Peter Lindsey, Wild Dog & Cheetah Strategic Planner(2009). Contact Kelly Marnewick, Working Group Manager(2010), kellym@ewt.org.za.• Jubatus Cheetah Project. Brenda de Witt (2009). ContactKelly Marnewick, Working Group Manager (2010),kellym@ewt.org.za.• Kalahari Wild Cat Project. Marna Herbst (2009). ContactKelly Marnewick, Working Group Manager (2010),kellym@ewt.org.za.• Multi-species Carnivore Census Project. Rox Brummer,Field Officer - Carnivore Census Project,roxb@ewt.org.za.• Re-assessment of Badger friendly honey label. UlrikeUrlich (2009). Contact Janet Edwards, Administrator,janete@ewt.org.za.• Wild Dog Metapopulation compendum.Kath Potgieter, Field Officer (2009). Contact HarrietDavies-Mostert, Director of Science,harrietd@ewt.org.za.• Thabazimbi Carnivore Census Project. Grant Beverley,Field Officer, grantb@ewt.org.za (2009).• Cheetah Metapopulation Programme. Contact KellyMarnewick, Working Group Manager (2010),kellym@ewt.org.za.Conservation Breeding Specialist GroupBrenda Daly, Working Group Manager,brendad@ewt.org.za.• Lion Bovine Tuberculosis Disease Risk Assessment workshop.• Cheetah PHVA.• Digitisation of Red Data Book of Birds.Conservation Leadership GroupGraeme Wilson, Working Group Manager,graemew@ewt.org.zaKirsty Brebner, Resource Development and Administrator,kirstyb@ewt.org.za.41

and policy. Anique Greyling, Working Group Manager,aniqueg@ewt.org.za• Strengthen Compliance and Enforcement of the SouthAfrican Environmental Government Framework. RynetteCoetzee, Project Executant, rynettec@ewt.org.za.• Fisheries trade data analysis users’ guide.A n i q u e G r e y l i n g , Wo r k i n g G r o u p M a n a g e r,aniqueg@ewt.org.za.• Strategic legal involvement in identified developmentapplications. Anique Greyling, Working Group Manager,aniqueg@ewt.org.za.Threatened Grassland Species ProgrammeAndre Rossouw, Working Group Co-ordinator (2009). Pleasecontact Christine Mentzel, EWT Conservation Manager formore on this project at christinem@ewt.org.za.• Oribi Conservation Project. Andre Rossouw,Working Group Co-ordinator (2009). ContactChristine Mentzel, EWT Conservation Manager,christinem@ewt.org.za.• Blue Swallow Conservation Project. Leigh Potter, FieldOfficer, leighp@ewt.org.za.Marine & Coastal Working GroupBernice McLean, Working Group Co-ordinator (2009).bernicem@ewt.org.za.Please contact Christine Mentzel, EWT Conservation Managerfor more on this project at christinem@ewt.org.za.Wildlife Conflict Prevention GroupTim Snow, Working Group Manager,snowman@ewt.org.za.Janet Edwards, Senior Administrator,janete@ewt.org.za.• Conservation Training Programme. Adam Pires, TrainingProgramme Co-ordinator, adamp@ewt.org.za.• Biodiversity Environmental Education Programme.Janet Snow, Environmental Education Leader,janets@ewt.org.za.• Rural Eco Warriors. Samson Phakathi, CommunityBased Natural Resources Management Co-ordinator,samsonp@ewt.org.za• Regional Programme for the Management of Sustainability.Kirsty Brebner, Resource Development Administrator,kirstyb@ewt.org.za.• Wild Coast Stewardship Project. Graeme Wilson, WorkingGroup Manager, graemew@ewt.org.za.International Crane Foundation / EWT Partnershipfor African CranesKerryn Morrison, Working Group Manager.kerrynm@ewt.org.zaDebbie Thiart, Senior Administrator.debbiet@ewt.org.za.• Highveld Grasslands Crane Conservation Project.Ursula Franke, African Cranes Field Officer – Highveld,ursulaf@ewt.org.za.• Wakkerstroom Crane Conservation Project. GlennRamke, Volunteer Field Officer. glennr@ewt.org.za.• Eastern Cape Crane Conservation Programme.Tanya Smith, Field Officer – Eastern Cape,tanyas@ewt.org.za.• African Crane Trade Project. Kerryn Morrison, WorkingGroup Manager, kerrynm@ewt.org.za.• African Wattled Crane Programme. Kerryn Morrison,Working Group Manager, kerrynm@ewt.org.za.• Africa Community based crane and wetland programme.Osiman Mabhachi, African Cranes SeniorProject Co-ordinator, osimanm@ewt.org.za.• Grey Crowned Crane Programme. Kerryn Morrison,Working Group Manager, kerrynm@ewt.org.za.• Black Crowned Crane Programme. Kerryn Morrison,Working Group Manager, kerrynm@ewt.org.za.• The Darwin Initiative. Kerryn Morrison, Working GroupManager, kerrynm@ewt.org.za.• GIS and Data Initiative. Kirsten Oliver, GIS Specialist(2009), kirsteno@ewt.org.za.• Karoo Crane Conservation Project. Bradley Gibbons,Field Officer – Karoo, bradleyg@ewt.org.za.• Western Cape Crane Conservation Project.Bronwyn Botha, Field Officer – Western Cape (2009).Contact Kerryn Morrison, Working Group Manager,kerrynm@ewt.org.za.• North-West Crane Conservation Project. Rindert Wyma(2009). Contact Kerryn Morrison, Working Group Manager,kerrynm@ewt.org.za.Healthy Rivers ProgrammeChristine Mentzel, Conservation Manager,christinem@ewt.org.za• Orange-Vaal River Yellowfish Telemetry Study.Gordon O’Brien, Project executant,gordono@ewt.org.za.IT4Conservation GroupBrenda Daly, Working Group Manager,brendad@ewt.org.za• Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) and ObservationalData Workshops.• Knowledge Management Database.• Global Species Database.• MS Sharepoint Project.• Digital Asset Management.Law & Policy Working GroupAnique Greyling, Working Group Manager.aniqueg@ewt.org.za• Environmental Impact Assessment Toolkit.Anique Greyling, Working Group Manager,aniqueg@ewt.org.za.• Advocacy and Development of environmental law• eChwebeni Site of Conservation Significance.Bernice McLean, Working Group Co-ordinator (2009),bernicem@ewt.org.za.• Trade in Marine Species (an IUCN / TRAFFIC project).Bernice McLean, Working Group Co-ordinator (2009),bernicem@ewt.org.za.Riverine Rabbit Working GroupVicky Nel (née Ahlmann), Working Group Manager,vickya@ewt.org.zaLisa Swanepoel, Administrator, lisas@ewt.org.za• Field Surveys. Vicky Nel (née Ahlmann), Working GroupManager, vickya@ewt.org.za.• Riverine Rabbit Eco-Schools Node. Vicky Nel (néeAhlmann), Working Group Manager,vickya@ewt.org.za.• Riverine Rabbit Environmental Education and Awareness.Vicky Nel (née Ahlmann), Working Group Manager,vickya@ewt.org.za.• Riverine Rabbit Stewardship and Conservancies.Vicky Nel (née Ahlmann), Working Group Manager,vickya@ewt.org.za.• Riparian Habitat Rehabilitation Project. Reda Potts, RiparianHabitat Rehabilitation Regional Field Officer - Loxton(2009). Ryno Erasmus (2010), rynoe@ewt.org.za.• Vegetation Management. Arnaud le Roux, Senior FieldOfficer, oxpecker@ewt.org.za.• Urban Conservation. Janet Edwards, Administrator,janete@ewt.org.za.• Public Health. Tim Snow, Working Group Manager,snowman@ewt.org.za.• Wildlife Human Conflict Mitigation. Deon Cilliers, SeniorField Officer, deonc@ewt.org.za.• Animal and Environmental Health. Arnaud le Roux, Animalhealth and Vegetation Management Co-ordinator,oxpecker@ewt.org.za.• Agricultural Environments. Dave Kleyn, Field Officer –KwaZulu-Natal, davek@ewt.org.za.Wildlife & Energy Interaction GroupJon Smallie, Working Group Manager, jons@ewt.org.zaMarianne Golding, Administrator, marianneg@ewt.org.za• Eskom-EWT Strategic Partnership. Megan Diamond,Project Manager, megand@ewt.org.za.• New Energy Infrastructure. Luke Strugnell, Senior FieldOfficer, lukes@ewt.org.za.• Other energy & communications sectors in SouthAfrica. Jon Smallie, Working Group Manager,jons@ewt.org.za.42

Broader engagementThe EWT engages broadly with both local and internationalstakeholders. Through this engagement we create awarenessaround pressing environmental concerns in Africa andwork to develop solutions appropriate to the African situation.The following covers some of the highlights for 2009:• The EWT is a member of the International Union for theConservation of Nature (IUCN) and its Chief ExecutiveOfficer (CEO) is one of three Regional Councillors fromAfrica on the IUCN Council Africa. She is also the Chairof the IUCN’s Constituency Committee, which overseesall membership applications and manages the processof engagement with their 10 000 scientists and 1 140members globally. The EWT’s CEO participated in the72 nd and 73 rd meetings of the IUCN Council in Gland,Switzerland in February and October and in the fourIUCN South Africa National Committee meetings heldin 2009.• The EWT is a founder partner of the ClimateAction Partnership (CAP) alongside ConservationInternational, the Wilderness Foundation, the Wildlifeand Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), theWildlands Conservation Trust and the Botanical Societyof South Africa. The EWT’s CEO participated in the CAPstrategy development process in Cape Town in Februaryand the CAP Board meeting in Port Elizabeth in August2009. She also helped to facilitate the CAP knowledgeexchange workshop in Cape Town in October 2009.• The EWT’s CEO holds a seat on the Indalu Yethu Board.Indalo Yethu is a legacy project, an independent trustof the South African Government’s Department ofEnvironmental Affairs and Tourism. It functions as anendorsement brand promoting greening and ecofriendlypractices as a way of life with its origins lying inthe World Summit on Sustainable Development held inSouth Africa in 2002.• The Manager of the EWT’s Carnivore ConservationGroup (EWT-CCG) is a member of the IUCN CatSpecialist Group, IUCN Canid Specialist Group andIUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.Membership to these groups is by invitation and theEWT-CCG provides input as requested.• The EWT-CCG is a member of the South AfricanLeopard Forum, where issues in Leopard conservationare discussed. It is also the Secretary of this Forum. Twomeetings were held in 2009.• The EWT-CCG is also a member of the WaterbergLeopard Forum, a forum on Leopard issues in theWaterberg in Limpopo. One meeting was attended in2009. EWT-CCG field staff attended four SoutpansbergLeopard Forum meetings in 2009. This is a forum todiscuss Leopard issues in the Soutpansberg in NorthernLimpopo.• The EWT-CCG Manager is the Chairperson of the WildDog Advisory Group (WAG-SA). This group advises onthe management of the South African Wild Dog metapopulationand four meetings were held in 2009.• The EWT-CCG Senior Researcher is a council member ofthe Southern African Wildlife Management Association,a professional association for the wildlife managementindustry. She attended the Association’s annual meetingand annual symposium in 2009.• The EWT’s Conservation Leadership Group (EWT-CLG)is part of the Nature Conservation Special AdvisoryCommittee: the school of Environmental Sciences,Department of Environmental Sciences, UNISA. Thiscommittee was set up to create co-operation andcommunication between UNISA and the conservationsector and information gained from meetings informsthe reassessment of the university’s curriculum. Onemeeting was held in 2009.• The EWT-CLG also forms part of UNISA’s NatureConservation Work Integrated Learning and PortfolioCommittee. This committee meets for a week twicea year to assess the portfolios of evidence of UNISA’sNature Conservation students as part of the finalassessment for students concluding their studies.• The EWT’s Conservation Manager participated in aDugong Dugonginae dugong conference in Maputoin May during which a national action plan wasformulated for Dugong conservation, for submission tothe Mozambican Government.• The EWT Conservation Leadership Group’sEnvironmental Education Leader attended a conferenceon Education for Sustainable Environment Processes inGaborone in June.• The EWT participated in a workshop hosted by the WitsLaw School in August to review the current AnimalProtection Act and to suggest areas for amendments.• The EWT continues to participate in meetingsand workshops convened by the Department ofEnvironmental Affairs to develop a set of norms andstandards for Damage Causing Animals.• The EWT’s CEO participated in an EconomicOpportunities and Risks of Climate Change workshophosted by CAMCO in August 2009 to develop a reporton the risks and opportunities presented by climatechange for corporate South Africa.• The EWT participated in stakeholder workshops forthe development of an Ecosystem Profile to identifyand map the biodiversity of the sensitive Maputaland-Pondoland Albany Hotspot area in 2009. ConservationInternational ran these workshops in Swaziland andGrahamstown and the EWT gave support through datainput on primarily cranes and birds of prey.• The EWT’s Conservation Manager and ConservationLeadership Group Resource Development andAdministration Leader participated in the InternationalProgramme for the Management of Sustainability(IPMS) through the Sustainability Challenge Foundationin the Netherlands. The Programme teaches the MutualGains Approach to Negotiation to achieve long-termsolutions that integrate the needs of developmentand conservation. The EWT managed the SouthAfrican Regional Programme for the Management ofSustainability through its Conservation LeadershipGroup.• The Community Projects Coordinator for theInternational Crane Foundation / EWT Partnershipfor African Cranes represented the Climate ActionPartnership at a United Nations Framework Conventionon Climate Change workshop in Kampala in August2009. The aim of this workshop was to finalise theAfrican agenda in preparation for the United NationsClimate Change Conference in Copenhagen inDecember.• The EWT Wildlife Conflict Prevention Group (EWT-WCPG) Manager participated in the Conference onSociety of Environment Toxicologists and Chemists inKampala, Uganda in November.• An EWT-WCPG Senior Field Officer participated ina workshop in India in September, to investigate thefeasibility of reintroducing Cheetah Acinonyx jubatusinto India.• The EWT’s CEO participated in a London ZoologicalSociety / IUCN Red List workshop in London inSeptember 2009, addressing the need for increasedfocus on the development of national Red Lists.• The EWT’s CEO also participated in the MiningBiodiversity Forum workshop in May, to review thedraft guidelines for mining and biodiversity.44

Human ResourcesThe EWT Human Resources Statement of Purpose: Tosupport the EWT’s Mission and Vision by fostering ahealthy, progressive, equitable working environment thatwill attract and retain excellent employees and enable themto develop to their full potential.and new methods to ensure the successful integration ofnew employeesThis report is a documentation of the HR departments’activities and achievements in 2009.Other ad hoc activities and trips:• The EWT’s CEO was invited to serve on an AfricanInstitute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) Panel onCorporate Social Responsibility to evaluate the CorporateSocial Responsibility standard being developed by theInternational Standards Organisation (ISO). The EWT’sCEO was asked to review and discuss a chapter on theenvironment.• The EWT and a number of other NGOs, including animalrights and welfare organisations, submitted a report onthe way forward for the approximately 4 000 lions incaptivity in ‘canned lion’ operations in South Africa tothe new Minister for Environmental Affairs.• The Manager of the ICF / EWT Partnership for AfricanCranes spent two weeks in China during October andNovember on a trip to address the trade in cranes inChinese zoos.• The EWT submitted extensive comments on the GreenPaper on National Strategic Planning, prepared byMinister Manuel’s ministry.• The EWT submitted comments on the draft regulationsfor implementing CITES in South Africa.• EWT staff participated in the International Associationfor Impact Assessment (IAIA) South Africa annualconference in Wilderness from the 23 rd to the 26 th ofAugust.• The EWT attended the Biodiversity Planning Forum inKwaZulu-Natal in March 2009 to identify possibilitiesfor inputting EWT data into the systematic biodiversityplanning processes and keep abreast of the most recentconservation planning to inform EWT conservationproject development and implementation.• The EWT Conservation Manager participated in theClimate Change Sector Response Strategy brainstormingsession facilitated by the Department of EnvironmentalAffairs in Pretoria in August. This helped to formulatethe main priorities of the biodiversity sector aroundresponses to climate change. Some of the optionsdiscussed were reducing risks to biodiversity to promoteresilience of ecosystems, incorporating climate changeinformation into management tools for biodiversitymanagement, expansion of the protected areanetwork ensuring connectivity and assisting the naturaladaptation of species to climatic changes.• The EWT was one of several NGOs that providedfeedback and input into the Development Bank of SouthAfrica’s draft environmental strategy in August 2009.• The EWT Conservation Manager engaged with theCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)on freshwater issues. Research undertaken by the CSIRcan inform EWT conservation action while this is animportant link for ensuring that recommendations areacted upon.• The EWT attended SANBI’s annual Grassland PartnersForum, a networking meeting to present progresson various grassland initiatives linked to the SANBIGrasslands Programme. The EWT is involved throughits Blue Swallow and Oribi projects, which focus on theprotection of specific grassland areas containing thesespecies.• In October the EWT Conservation Manager attendeda discussion entitled ‘Water resources under threat:Rights and remedies’ led by the WITS School of Law,which included discussions around mining impactson our water sources. It supported networking withvarious stakeholders in the freshwater conservationsector and links were forged with the Mvula Trust forfurther engagement on community work related to theEWT Healthy Rivers Project.• In February the EWT Conservation Manager attendeda stakeholder engagement meeting held by SANBIto discuss content for South Africa’s report to theConvention on Biological Diversity. SANBI collates theinformation needed for Department of EnvironmentalAffairs to submit to the CBD Secretariat.• The EWT’s CEO also attended a site visit to Richard’s BayMinerals (RBM) as part of a series of site visits hosted byRio Tinto for IUCN staff and councillors as part of theirconsideration of developing a strategic conservationrelationship with Rio Tinto.New partnerships and projects:• Rio Tinto Alcan NGO Alliance: the EWT is a partner inthis alliance which aims to support the environmentallysound development of the Coega Aluminium Smelter.• Centre for Environmental Rights: The EWT is a foundermember of the Centre for Environmental Rights andEnvironmental Legal Defence Fund, establishedas a Section 21 company in 2009 to address keyenvironmental issues through submission of substantivecomments and including litigation where required.The Human Resources (HR) department is guided byits mission and the strategic goals identified in the EWTStrategic Plan. Its services include appointments, payrolloperations, employee relations, organisational and staffdevelopment, equity and diversity, Broad-Based BlackEconomic Empowerment, policies and procedures andworkforce planning functions.We work in a dynamic environment where the organisationcontinues to grow and change. These changes bring aboutchallenges to the existing HR methods which require thatadjustments be made; they bring opportunities for newcollaborations and fresh insight. Some of these changeshave included the development and implementation ofa fully automated performance development system,adjustments to the staff position scaling system, theintroduction of the level of Director within the organogramOrganisational structuralchangesIntroduction of a Director levelThe level of Director was introduced into the EWTorganogram early in 2009 with the employment of aDirector of Operations and Governance, and later aDirector of Fundraising and Marketing; the decision to fillthe position of Director of Science early in 2010 was alsotaken in 2009.The introduction of additional higher level positionswithin an organisation allows for a diversity of ideas andopinions, which in turn stimulates the development of theorganisation. This will support the new EWT strategy.4647

Employee movementEmployee turnoverWe are pleased to report that staff turnover for 2009 camein at a very low 3.6%; with only three permanent positionsbeing replaced.MonthSeptember 2009September 2009September 2009PostBirds of Prey Working Group AdministratorWildlife & Energy Interaction Group AdministratorExecutive SecretaryTable 1: Posts which incurred staff changes in 2009Permanent positions createdA total of 14 new permanent positions were created during2009, listed below in monthly order in Table 2.MonthPostJune 2009Riverine Rabbit Working Group – AdministratorJune 2009Fundraiser – Cape TownAugust 2009Director of Fundraising and MarketingAugust 2009Carnivore Conservation Group – Senior ResearcherAugust 2009Wildlife Conflict Prevention Group – Senior Field OfficerAugust 2009Conservation Leadership Group – Rural Eco WarriorAugust 2009IT SupportSept 2009Senior BookkeeperSept 2009Carnivore Conservation Group – Gauteng Field OfficerDecember 2009Threatened Grasslands Species Programme – Kaapsehoop Field OfficerTable 2: List of new permanent positions created in 2009MonthJan 2009April 2009June 2009PostDirector of Operations and GovernanceConservation Leadership Group – Conservation and Leadership TrainingProgramme CoordinatorThreatened Grasslands Species Programme – Mpumalanga Field OfficerFixed term employment contracts concludedDue to the nature of the EWT’s business it is beneficial forboth the employer and employee to enter into fixed-termemployment contracts from time to time. These contractsare usually project specific and have a clear start and enddate.49

Demographic spread of staff withinoccupational levelsThe EWT continues to strive to meet its employmentequity goals. Figure 2 below reflects the profile of staff per occupationallevel and the progress made from 2008 to 2009.Significant success was achieved in the movement of stafffrom the unskilled sector to the semi-skilled sector.5045403530Coloured Male25African Male2015105White MaleIndian MaleAfrican FemaleStaff member profilesDemographic breakdown of the total workforceThe EWT staff numbers changed marginally from 84 to 85between December 2008 and December 2009, this due tothe number of fixed-term contracts that were terminated duringthe year.The overall growth of employee numbers has not increasedmuch from year to year, however, we believe progress towardsnarrowing the percentage differences between thevarious employee demographic groups is positive, as indicatedin Figures 1 and 2 below. Figure 1 shows the demographicbreakdown of the EWT’s total workforce for the years 2007,2008 and 2009, followed by Figure 2, which shows the occupationallevel breakdown.02008Top managerqualifiedProfessionallySemi-skilledForeign NationalSeniormanagementFigure 2. Demographic spread of staff within occupational levelsSkilledqualifiedtechnical academically andUnskilledColouredFemaleIndian FemaleWhite Female50403020072008202009100WhiteFemaleIndianFemaleAfricanFemaleColouredFemaleIndian Male White Male African MaleFigure 1: Demographic breakdown of total workforce.5051

Staff training and developmentBuilding professional capacity continues to be of importancewithin the EWT. The invaluable training sponsorship receivedfrom Siyanqoba Seminars, Pharos Training, Blazing Moon andNew Horizon has allowed our staff to attend a total of 106courses ranging from Effective Minute Taking, Office Management,Essential Finance Management, Managing Budgets,Managing Behaviour Change to a variety of InformationTechnology related training, to mention a few.The EWT is committed to the ongoing training of all staff,both to improve productivity and broaden the staffs’ skillsbase, and to uplift morale.During 2009, 106 certified training courses were attendedby our staff, an increase of 20% since 2008. These coursesconsisted of a variety of comprehensive, tailored trainingsessions such as Professional Report Writing, BehaviourChange, Effective Management, Confidence and Assertivenessand Microsoft Office.In addition staff are encouraged to further their studies, ultimatelyassisting them in their current or future careers.The EWT has a very generous study leave system and policyto support and encourage further study.Broad-Based Black EconomicEmpowermentFor the second year running the EWT is the proud holder of aB-BBEE certificate; achieving a Level Five Certificate in 2009.This is a testament to our internal controls, employment equity,skills development, preferential procurement and socioeconomicdevelopment achievements.Socio-Economic Development Certificate2009 saw the EWT being assessed based on the Codes ofGood Practice on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment,which covers the recognition and measurement ofsocio-economic development.The EWT’s work of conserving species and ecosystems insouthern Africa; conducting research and conservation programmes;implementing projects that mitigate threats facingspecies; supporting sustainable natural resource management;and its approved transformation projects such ashuman capital development in the rural or underdevelopedurban areas, has entitled it to a 100% rating on its Socio-Economic Development Certificate. This means thatEWT sponsors can recognise 100% of the value of their sponsorshipin the calculation of their own scorecards.Electronic performance development systemAn electronic performance development system was introducedinto the organisation in November 2009. The newsystem will ensure the alignment of employee’s terms of referenceand programme and organisational objectives. This inturn will align job descriptions with strategic objectives andproject plans.The new system was well received by both management andstaff and will assist with smooth assessment operations withaccurate record keeping, uniformity of terms of reference andwith the generation of paper-free records of all performancedevelopment processes.Human Resource Departmentsponsors 2009The EWT’s Human Resources department was proudly supportedby the following organisations in 2009:New Horizon (since 1997)Siyanqoba Seminars (since 2003)Blazing Moon Corporate Training (since 2008)The National Lotteries Distribution Fund (since 2007)IQ Business Group (since 2008)Empowerdex (since 2008)Pharos (since 2008)Fundraising, Marketingand CommunicationsThe Endangered Wildlife Trust has a dynamic and healthyblend of income-generating programmes. Despite the recenteconomic downturn, the Trust was, for the most part, ableto continue its operations at full throttle. This was a remarkableachievement, attributable to the many individuals, Trusts,Foundations and corporations (both locally and abroad) thatcontinued to support us in challenging times. It is also a testimonyto the relevance and quality of the work being doneby the EWT’s multi-talented staff, who work tirelessly to fulfilits Mission.With the appointment of a Director of Fundraising and Marketingin the latter part 2009, the EWT injected fresh energyinto its fundraising activities and began developing an innovative,exciting new fundraising strategy to sustain and in factincrease awareness of the support crucial to the EWT.MembershipThe contribution made by individual members is crucial toour sustainable income-generating activities. There are manyunnamed individuals who also provide gifts in kind and expertise.By the end of 2009, the EWT had 3 616 paid up individualmembers who had given R790 072.00 in membershipsubscriptions. Individuals are also being encouraged to givevia debit orders, which helps us to reduce our expenses allround.Membership 2006 2007 2008 2009CategoryExplorers 2 437 2 700 2 428 2 237Custodians 418 517 540 438Groundbreakers 140 155 254 307EWT Pensioners 771 763 658 499Life Members 130 137 137 135TOTAL 3 896 4 272 4 017 3 616Table 1. Breakdown of paid up Individual Membership according to membership optionsfor 2006 – 2009.5253

In a year that the world, and indeed South Africans,faced severe economic constraints it is remarkable thatso many supporters were able to continue to meet themembership dues.Individual giversIn 2009, individuals donated R111 674.00 to the EWT’swork over and above membership dues – an increase of30% above budget. During the year, the frequency andnature of communication with our supporters was enhancedand this included sending copies of EWT mediareleases to all donors, resulting in rewarding dialogueswith members of the public.Looking ahead to 2010, individual involvement in ourwork will be amplified through the launch of a new campaigncalled “Dare to Care’, as well as fuller utilisation ofsocial media tools to engage our supporters more fullyin topical issues.BequestsRevenue from bequests contributed significantly to theoverall income of the EWT in 2009 with a total of R3 452134.45 being received. Bequests were received from thefollowing estates:• The Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust• The Philo De Villiers Trust• Estate Late Helen Suzman• Estate Late Noelle Fotheringham• Estate Late Diane Whelan• Estate Late JP Doman• Estate Late PM Patterson• Estate Johan Lotter• Estate Late AJM StephansenSupport from Corporations, Trusts andFoundationsThe EWT’s Patron donors deserve a particular mentionfor their generous support of the programmes and operationalactivities of the Trust. They are Anglo AmericanChairman’s Fund, Barloworld, Mr Mike Heinebach,DG Murray Trust (a donor of the Climate Action Partnership),Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson Charitable Trust,Hans Hohesein Charitable Trust, Howard Buffett Foundation,Jaguar Land Rover South Africa, Mazda WildlifeFund, Monsanto, National Lotteries Distribution TrustFund, Rand Merchant Bank, Sasol, Tony and Lisette LewisFoundation and WWF - Worldwide Fund for Nature.Donations in kind are equally valuable and here we thankLesoba Difference, TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris, Computer Facilities,Deloitte, DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, the MazdaWildlife Fund and the Johannesburg Zoo. There aremany others who contribute significantly to our workand a full list can be found in our list of supporters onpage 59 of this report.Conservation talksMany interesting talks were held during the year andcovered a wide range of topics that included SibusisoVilane’s pioneering summit of Mt. Everest, the launchof the book Fire Dogs of Climate Change by Sally Andrews,a mesmerising rendition of Manzovo: Place ofthe Elephants by Gary Albyn and regular updates on theEWT’s Working Groups. Many new supporters attendedthe talks along with our familiar and deeply loyal regularsupporters. These functions provide an invaluable opportunityfor the EWT staff to interact with our membershipbase and interested members of the public and we thankthe Johannesburg Country Club for their very generoussupport of these events. Regular talks are soon to beheld in Cape Town and Durban.Emotive and promotional mailersWith the assistance of advertising agency Lesoba Difference,two emotive mailers were sent out in 2009. Thefirst mailer dealt with the critical issue of the health ofSouth Africa’s river ecosystems and generated a gross incomeof R77 491.00. The second mailer focused on thethorny issue of poaching and at the time of writing thisreport, the EWT had received a gross response of R83064.00.The funds raised through the emotive mailers assistedthe EWT to establish projects directed at addressing thesepressing conservation challenges. In 2010, activities ofthe EWT’s newly formed Healthy Rivers Programme willbe escalated, while poaching, wildlife trade and improvinglaw enforcement are increasingly becoming the focusof a number of our programmes.Cause Related Marketing (CRM)The financial support provided by our CRM partnerscontinued to provide much needed income throughthe donation of a percentage of their product sales orturnover in support of the EWT. During 2009, Brown’sof Rivonia and Project Plus continued their support ofthe EWT and were joined by others, such as ImazineIonic Watches, Lindhorst Wines, Foden Jewellery, All OutCreations and the South African Mint. As an exampleof how successful CRM has been for the EWT, in 2009All-Out Creations generated R30 000.00 towards theCheetah and Leopard Trade Project through the sale ofwildlife themed educational game cards for children andSA Mint raised R170 000.00 of an estimated expectedtotal of R500 000.00 towards the EWT’s Rhino SecurityProject. All CRM initiatives will continue into 2010.Special eventsDespite the recession our special events still managed togenerate profits. The fourth Great Green Golf Day washeld at the Lost City Golf Course, Sun City in September2009 and generated a net income of over R60 000.00.The Bike4Beasts Mountain Bike Challenge, managed byLycaon Logistics, continued to grow in stature with over110 riders competing in this race, held on 26 April at theDe Beers Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve. The eventhas in fact spawned a second mountain bike race whichwas held in the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve near Bronkhorstsruit.The challenges collectively generated overR100 000.00 for the EWT’s conservation activities.5455

Breakdown of income received in 2009Conservation Support Services Funding SourcesConservation Support Services Funding SourcesFigure 3. Conservation Support Services Funding SourcesConservation Programme Funding SourcesConservation Programme Funding SourcesConservation Programme Funding SourcesFunctions IncomeFunctions IncomeBequests IncomeSubscriptions Bequests IncomeIncomeFunctions IncomeFundraising Subscriptions IncomeIncomeBequests IncomeDonationsSubscriptions Fundraising IncomeIncomeDonors Fundraising DonationsCorporateIncomeDonationsDonors CorporateDonors CorporateDonations-LocalDonations-ForeignBus/Corps Donations-Local Donations-LocalTrust/FoundationsDonations-ForeignDonations-ForeignGrants Bus/CorpsBus/CorpsTrust/FoundationsTrust/FoundationsGrantsGrantsFigure 4. Conservation Programme Funding SourcesCommunicationsDuring 2009, the EWT’s Communications portfolio expandedrapidly and has become a key function for the organisation,helping to focus its communications to key audiences withspecific messages constructed to develop the EWT’s brandpresence, informing people about the critical issues facing ourenvironment today.A comprehensive communications strategy was developedfor the EWT in 2009, supporting the 2008 Conservation Strategyand aiming to:• Refine the focus of the EWT’s communications to supportgreater implementation;• Define the various audiences and stakeholders to whomthe EWT should be speaking in order to better define itsmessaging; and• Ensure that all aspects of the EWT’s work are given strongrepresentation in the public eye, to build a strong andtrue brand.The strategy identified core brand values that exist within theEWT and redefined the EWT’s seven Strategic Imperatives, inthe Conservation Strategy, in simpler terms. In 2010 thesedefinitions will be developed into a brand blueprint for theEWT, which will be used to clearly communicate our brandboth internally and externally.Media releasesA total of 15 media releases was issued during 2009, which resultedin the EWT featuring in over 200 magazines and newspaperarticles, 25 radio inserts and six television inserts. Manyarticles were also published on several websites. The EWT hasan extensive media database and as a result our media releasesare well received by print, radio, online and televisionjournalists. These media releases also serve to place us firmlyin the media eye, with journalists often contacting us for expertopinion on topics other than those that we have explicitlycommunicated to them.Our media presence is tracked for us by Jisani Digitrack forwhich we are extremely grateful.EWT website and social mediaMuch has changed in the online world since 2004 when theEWT’s website was first developed. As such a redevelopmentof the site was commissioned towards the end of 2009, to belaunched in March 2010.Despite its age, the website still attracts relatively large numbersof people and on average over 6 000 visitors view theEWT website each month. Many of these are soon convertedinto members, subscribers or donors and as such the websiteplays a vital role in communicating with our stakeholders andin attracting funds.The EWT joined the social media world in June 2009, with aFacebook group and Twitter account being established. TheFacebook group has grown steadily since its establishmentand stood at around 600 members by the end of 2009. TheTwitter account grew more slowly, with a total of around 130followers at the end of 2009. A YouTube account was alsocreated and the EWT’s television adverts were uploaded tothis platform. Plans for 2010 include maximising the opportunitiesthat lie in social media for both spreading the conservationmessage and soliciting support for the EWT’s work.Electronic communications with keystakeholdersMost of the EWT’s Working Groups produce electronic newsletters.These are circulated to Working Group specific supportersto keep these stakeholders up-to-date with the latestactivites in that particular Group.The EWT’s communications department also produces a bimonthlye-newsletter, EWTalk, which is distributed to EWT’sapproximately 12 000 members and supporters. It includesinformation regarding project highlights, supporter news, e-shop news, our wishlist, eco news from outside the EWT andtips on sustainable living. It also provides an ideal platform forour CEO to communicate with our supporter base.5657

EWT print publicationsEnvironment – people and conservation in AfricaThe launch of a new magazine, in November 2009, was therealisation of a long dream to produce a mouthpiece for acollective coalition of conservation NGOs working throughthe region. Entitled Environment – people and conservation inAfrica, the magazine is a joint venture between the EWT, theCape Leopard Trust, SANCCOB, the Wildlands ConservationTrust, The Game Rangers Association of Africa, the Wildlifeand Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and theWilderness Foundation. The publication replaces WESSA’sformer African Wildlife and the EWT’s Vision and goes to allour collective databases and memberships. The new magazineprovides an opportunity for the NGO partners to speakto a much wider constituency than in the past about thesignificant work being undertaken by conservation NGOson a wide variety of issues. The magazine is currently beingproduced quarterly and is quickly growing in popularity andreadership.Vision AnnualThe 17 th edition of the EWT’s flagship annual Vision wasproduced towards the end of 2009. It highlighted climatechange, a topic that received enormous attention in 2009,in particular towards the end of the year with the UnitedNations Framework Convention on Climate Change FifteenthConference of the Parties (COP15). The need forurgent and radical changes to ‘business as usual’ wasstressed and South Africa’s position in the global contextof energy producers and greenhouse gas emitters was examined.The recent upswing in poaching and illegal tradeacross southern Africa was also explored in depth with acomprehensive discussion on the poaching situation ineach SADC country, and the measures being taken to addressthis serious threat to our wildlife. The TransfrontierConservation Areas for the southern African region, andwalking trails around Gauteng, were also investigated fromboth a tourism and conservation value perspective.With the Communications Department being firmly establishedby the end of 2009, exciting campaigns have beenplanned for 2010. These include a celebration of the InternationalYear of Biodiversity and an anti-litter campaign,amongst others. The department is working closely withthe fundraising staff to enhance their ability to attractfunding wherever possible, while also keeping close tieswith the conservation staff to make sure the messages beingcommunicated are pertinent and credible.“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generationswhose words of thanks will not be heard.”— Gaylord Nelsonformer governor of Wisconsin, co-founder of Earth DayIf you would like to become a member of the EWT, leave abequest or be part of our ‘Dare to Care’ Campaign, whereyou actively participate in field work from a distance, pleasecontact Vanessa Bezuidenhout at vanessab@ewt.org.za.Our SupportersEWT Strategic PartnersAirports Company South AfricaEskomInternational Crane FoundationConservation Breeding Specialist GroupConservation InternationalPatron Supporters (R250 000 and above)Anglo American Chairman’s FundBarloworld TrustMike HeinbachDG Murray Trust (via the Climate Action Partenrship)Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson Charitable TrustHans Hoheisen Charitable TrustHoward G Buffett FoundationJaguar Land Rover South AfricaMonsantoNational Lottery Distribution Trust FundRand Merchant BankSasolTony and Lisette Lewis FoundationWorldwide Fund for Nature (WWF SA)Groundbreaker Supporters(R100 000 - R249 999)African Oxygen LimitedBakwena Platinum Corridor ConcessionareDistellLufthansaMohammed Bin Zayed Species FundMondi Shanduka NewsNashua LimitedPG BisonSA MintUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)XstrataZoological Society of LondonZurich InsuranceCustodian Supporters (R50 000 - R99 999)Altron GroupPPC - Pretoria Portland CementAssociation of HospitalsBayerCharl van der Merwe TrustCrop lifeLOMAS Wildife Protection TrustPhilagroPhilo de Villiers TrustRufford Africa Small GrantsTransnet (National Ports Authority)Welgevonden Private Game ReserveZoological Society for the Conservation of Species andPopulationsExplorer Supporters (R2 500 - R49 999)Aloe Ridge Hotel and Game ReserveAnd BeyondAssore Chairman’s FundBarrow ConstructionBrowns of RivoniaBrydens Project ManagementBuchanan & Payne PublishingBushwillow BryanstonCadvest TrustCK Travel and ToursCOAPE LtdCoronation Asset ManagementCranefield CollegeDad’s Charity ChallengeDavies FoundationE. Oppenheimer and SonEcoTrainingFarmers AgricareFine Metal / Ubuntu Community ChestGBIF - Global Biodiversity Information FacilityGCCL2 Management ServicesGoldman Family TrustGreater Good SA - SASIXGreensleeves Medieval KingdomHelter SkelterHollard Insurance CompanyIntsrotech (Pty) LtdJika AfricaKhaki Fever WorkwearMillstreamMutual and FederalMy Village / My PlanetNaturelife InternationalNzumbululo Heritage SolutionsOrient Express SafarisPAN UK - Pesticides Action NetworkPeregrine and Gecko’s AdventuresPhilip Moore Family TrustProject PlusPulse AfricaRoyce ImagingSA Wildlife CollegeSafari BrothersSamara Private Game ReserveSafari and Tourism Insurance Brokers (SATIB)Shape SASimmonds Hampton TrustSivestSmile Education GamesSteel and PipeSun Timber SalesThe Lion ParkThompsons AfricaTinga Game LodgeTransafrica SafarisTrapper’s TradingVirgo Storage - Alternative Airport Parking59

Scientific PublicationsVision Development TrustVodacom FoundationWits Bird ClubWldlife and Environment Society of SA (WESSA)World Association of Zoos and AquariumsZitom LodgeZoological Society of LondonSupporters in KindPatron Supporters (R250 000 and above)DeloitteFuture PublishingJohannesburg ZooLesoba DifferenceMazda Wildlife FundTBWA/Hunt/LascarisCustodian Supporters (R50 000 - R99 999)Country Club JohannesburgDLA Cliffe Dekker HofmeyrNew Horizon Computer Learning CentreProtea HotelsSafari and Tourism Insurance Brokers (SATIB)Virgo StorageExplorer Supporters (R2 500 - R49 999)1Time AirlineABIAfrica GeographicAmanzingwe Bush LodgeAmarulaBriza PublishersCanopy ToursCape Union MartCity PowerClarins MenCrabtree & EvelynDelheimDistellEskomExclusive BooksFormaxGolfers ClubHaute EspoireHealthy Living HerbsImazineIna PaarmanJacana MediaJHB ZooLesedi Cultural VillageLindhorst WinesLittle LuxuryMagsceneMakweti LodgeMineral Water ManOffice PlantOutdoor WarehousePsaros TrainingPumaRhode IslandSABSilver Spoon CateringSiyanqoba TrainingStruik Random HouseTitleistTrappers TradingVineyard Hotel and SpaBequestsThe Hans Hoheisen Charitable TrustThe Philo De Villiers TrustEstate Late Helen SuzmanEstate Late Noelle FotheringhamEstate Late Diane WhelanEstate Late JP DomanEstate Late PM PattersonEstate Johan LotterEstate Late AJM StephansenDavies-Mostert, H.T., Mills, M.G.L. & Macdonald, D.W.2009. A critical assessment of South Africa’s managedmetapopulation recovery strategy for African wild dogs andits value as a template for large carnivore conservation elsewhere.In: Reintroduction of Top Order Predators (eds) M.Hayward & M. Somers. Blackwell Publishing. pp 10-43.Edwards, J.M. 2009. Conservation genetics of African wilddogs Lycaon pictus (Temminck, 1820) in South Africa.M.Sc. thesis. University of Pretoria.Herbst, M. & Mills, M.G.L. 2009. Techniques used in thestudy of African wildcat Felis silvestris cafra in the KgalagadiTransfrontier Park (South Africa/Botswana). Koedoe (inpress).Herbst, M. & Mills, M.G.L. (In press). The feeding habits ofthe Southern African wildcat, a facultative trophic specialist,in the southern Kalahari (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park,South Africa/Botswana). J. Zool (Lond.).Johnson, S., Mengersen, K., de Waal, A., Marnewick,K.,Cilliers, D., Houser, A.M. & Boast, L. 2010. Modellingcheetah relocation success in southern Africa using an IterativeBayesian Network Development Cycle. EcologicalModelling Volume 221.Lindsey, P., Marnewick, K., Davies-Mostert, H.T., Rehse,T., Mills, M.G.L., Brummer, R., Buk, K., Traylor-Holzer, K.,Morrison, K., Mentzel, C. and Daly, B. (editors). 2009.Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Population Habitat Viability AssessmentWorkshop Report. Conservation Breeding SpecialistGroup (SSC / IUCN) / CBSG Southern Africa. EndangeredWildlife Trust.Lindsey, P., Romaňach, S.S. & Davies-Mostert, H.T. 2009.The financial drivers of predator conservation on private landin South Africa. In: The Reintroduction of Top Order Predators(eds) M. Hayward & M. Somers. Blackwell Publishing.Lindsey, P.A., Romaňach, S.S. & Davies-Mostert, H.T. 2009The importance of conservancies for enhancing the value ofgame ranch land for large mammal conservation in southernAfrica. Journal of Zoology 277: 99-105.Marnewick, K., Daly, B. & Somers, M.J. 2009. Which spotsmatter? Ecological Niche Modelling to investigate habitatsuitability for cheetahs in South Africa. Presented at the SouthAfrican Wildlife Management Association Annual Symposium.Protea Hotel Black Mountain, Free State, South Africa. 13-16September 2009.Potgieter, K. 2009. Pup provisioning and artificial pack formationin African wild dog Lycaon pictus in South Africa.M.Sc. thesis, University of Cape Town.6061

EWT Trustees - 2009Contact usTrusteesYearAlan Calenborne 1999Antony Wannell (FinCom, Board) 2005Bill Yeowart 1999Brett Nagle (FinCom) 2004Brian Courtenay 1996David Donald (FinCom) 1991David Mitchell 1978David Mphelo 2006David Scheepers 2009Diana Smullen 1999Dirk Ackerman (Board) 1999Farida Mahomed (Board) 2007Gail Lemmert (Board) 2005Hector Magome 1999Joanna Goeller (Board) 2006John Barrow 1994John Farrant (FinCom) 1986John Ledger, Dr 1976Karin Ireton (Board) 2004Lindy Rodwell van Hasselt 1999Lot Mlati (Board) 2007Marilyn Dougall-Thomas 1993Mark Drewell (Chairman) (Board) 2004Mike Barnett (Treasurer) (FinCom, Board) 2005Mike Bridgeford 1991Michael Esterhuysen (Board) 2001Nick King, Dr (Board) 2007Pancho Ndebele (Board) 2006Robert Waldron 2001Robyn Stein 2001Ronald Tanur 1999Rest Kanju 2008Rosemary Noge (Board) 2008Sibusiso Vilane 2009Sue Adams 2001Terence Sibiya, Dr. 2009Uwe Putlitz (Board) 1987Valli Mohammed Moosa 2009Winnie Kunene 2004Zola Tsotsi, Dr 1999General enquiriesTelephone: + 27 (0) 11 486 1102Fax: +27 (0) 11 486 1506E-mail: ewt@ewt.org.zawww.ewt.org.zaPostal Address:The Endangered Wildlife Trust, Private Bag X11, Parkview,2122, South AfricaPhysical Address:The Gold Fields Environment Centre, Johannesburg ZoologicalGardens, Erlsworld Way, Parkview, South AfricaFundraising and marketingVanessa Bezuidenhout, Director of Fundraising & Marketingvanessab@ewt.org.zaCommunications and mediaHayley Komen, Communications Managerhayleyk@ewt.org.za or media@ewt.org.zaConservationChristine Mentzel, Conservation Managerchristinem@ewt.org.zaHarriet Davies-Mostert, Director of Scienceharrietd@ewt.org.zaHuman resourcesAlison Janicke, Human Resources and Administration Manageralisonj@ewt.org.zaFinanceAbbas Moolla, Financial Managerabbasm@ewt.org.zaChief Executive OfficerYolan Friedmannyolanf@ewt.org.zawww.ewt.org.zaTwitterFacebook6263

64Project and StaffLocations