Endangered Wildlife Trust

Additional Contacts:

Yolan Friedmann: Chief Executive Officer (yolanf@ewt.org.za)
Mandy Poole: Chief Operations Officer (mandyp@ewt.org.za)
Vanessa du Plessis: Head of Business Development and Fundraising (vanessab@ewt.org.za)
Harriet Davies-Mostert: Head of Science (harrietd@ewt.org.za)
Abbas Moolla: Financial Manager: (finance@ewt.org.za)
Alison Janicke: Administration and Human Resources Manager (alisonj@ewt.org.za)
Christine Mentzel: Conservation Manager (christinem@ewt.org.za)
Hayley Komen: Communications Manager (hayleyk@ewt.org.za)

THE EWT's PROGRAMMES:

African Crane Conservation Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Kerryn Morrison (Programme Manager)
Cell: 082 877 5126
Email: kerrynm@ewt.org.za
Debbie Thiart (Senior Administrator)
Email: debbiet@ewt.org.za

Cranes and Agriculture:
Across Africa, cranes are found in agricultural landscapes and these areas are a key driver in crane population dynamics. Cranes can damage crops and hence often come into conflict with farmers.As such, there is a need to fully understand human use of the agricultural landscape, forming the basis for development and testing of crane deterrents in croplands that are both efficient and cost effective.This will reduce the incidence of crane poisoning.

The agricultural landscape of the Western Cape in South Africa holds around 50% of the world's population of Blue Cranes. This area will be significantly altered as a result of changes in the climate, which will impact on the wheat and pasture mosaic that the cranes depend upon for their full life cycle. Understanding the potential changes that will occur in the area is critical to ensure that conservation action is prioritised based on the impacts on the Blue Cranes and to secure their future in South Africa.

African Crane Trade Project:
Grey Crowned, Black Crowned, Blue and Wattled Cranes are traded both within and outside of Africa. They are taken from the wild minimally for food and traditional use, but significantly for local domestication and the international trade markets.This trade is potentially the primary threat to Black and Grey Crowned Cranes and is impacting significantly on wild populations. The African Crane Trade Project aims to to reduce the impact of the captive crane trade on wild crane populations by targeting supply within Africa, and demand both within Africa and globally.There are three focus areas within the project: to understand both the supply and demand side of the trade, and review the project's strategy annually to ensure effective and efficient mitigation action; to create awareness of the status of Africa's resident cranes and the threat that the trade poses to wild populations; and to understand, use where applicable, and advocate for changes within the policies and legislation that govern the trade in cranes, both locally and internationally.

Cranes, Wetlands and Communities:
Acknowledging that people use the same wetlands and water that cranes depend on, it is critical that key crane wetlands and surrounding areas are secured. Working across east and southern Africa, contributions are made to improving wetland and catchment policy and management; awareness is created and good relationships developed with local communities to improve the opportunities for the acceptance of conservation action and relevant habitat management; key crane sites in Africa will be secured by involving local communities, key stakeholders and relevant authorities through Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements, Site Support Groups, Community developed management plans, and carbon offset projects; and key crane peatlands will be secured through carbon trading projects.Areas covered by this project include the Drakensburg region, Mpumalanga grasslands and North West Province grasslands in South Africa, the Driefontein Grasslands in Zimbabwe, western and south western parts of Uganda, western regions of Kenya and the north west of Rwanda.

Research and Conservation Planning:
Using applied research and monitoring provides the opportunity for credible and objective input into conservation planning and prioritisation and opens the door to becoming a partner of choice.Research and monitoring outcomes will be used to guide action or to develop a project further, either falling within one of the three African based projects or becoming a project on its own if necessary.The following themes are included within this research component of the project:database maintenance and development of data sharing agreements with other organisations; long term monitoring; research to better understand crane ecology and habitat requirements; research to understand the status of and threats to the Black Crowned Crane population in West Africa; monitoring and research on the interaction between cranes and power lines; and post release monitoring of Wattled Cranes released in South Africa. Conservation planning includes our input into all conservation planning exercises, especially those where our data are used; development of South African National Biodiversity Management Plans for cranes; action planning for crane conservation in other countries; and the development of International Single Species Action Plans under the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement.

Airports Wildlife Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Claire Patterson-Abrolat (Programme Manager)
Email: claire@ewt.org.za

The Airports Wildlife Programme is dedicated to improving aviation safety by minimising the chance of birds and other wildlife being hit by aircraft. In addition, it deals with a number of associated issues such keeping a Bird Strike Incident Database and conducting research into new ideas, techniques and technologies.A variety of methods is used to ensure that the Programme's objectives are met. These include proactive measures such as creating habitats that are undesirable to birds and wildlife species, and reactive measures that deal with wildlife already present on the airfield. One of the more successful methods of bird dispersal is the use of Border Collies to chase birds off the airfield. Although these dogs are safe enough to use on even protected species, the birds perceive them as natural predators and move to 'safer' areas.Since its establishment the project has reduced the frequency of bird and wildlife strikes at the airports where it operates.A comprehensive risk assessment has ensured that airports operate according to international best practices and standards, and each airport has a Wildlife Management Plan to guide the implementation of their tailor-made hazard reduction programme.

Birds of Prey Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Andre Botha (Programme Manager)
Email: andreb@ewt.org.za
Tanya Fouche (Senior Administrator)
Email: tanyaf@ewt.org.za

The EWT's Birds of Prey Programme focuses on the conservation of diurnal and nocturnal raptors, vultures, and their habitat. Established in 2005 by merging the Raptor Conservation and Vulture Study Groups, it co-ordinates a number of projects. Some of the larger project includes the Zurich Kalahari Raptor Project, the Sasol Vulture Monitoring Project, the Anglo Grass Owl Project, Platberg Karoo Raptor Project and the Lowveld/Kruger National Park Large Bird Project.

The Programme's employees and volunteers study and do long term monitoring of various birds of prey species, operate a bird of prey resightings database and run ringing and rehabilitation schemes. The Programme's numerous partners include SANParks, the SA Falconry Association, BirdLife South Africa, University of Cape Town, the Northern Cape Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation, the American Zoological and Aquarium Association, the Global Owl Project, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and Afrique Nature International. This Programme also produces two journals, Vulture News and Gabar.

Carnivore Conservation Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Kelly Marnewick (Programme Manager)
Email: kellym@ewt.org.za
Marion Burger (Administrator)
Email: marionb@ewt.org.za

This Programme operates in perhaps the most appreciated and well-known side of African conservation initiatives - protecting the many carnivore species found in the region. It promotes carnivore research with an emphasis on implementing sound management strategies. Its vision is to develop southern Africa into a region where carnivores are managed in an ecologically and economically sustainable way, free from irrational and unnecessary persecution.

The Carnivore Conservation Programme's flagship species are the Endangered African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus and the Vulnerable Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus. It runs an active monitoring and research programme, which includes a regular Wild Dog and Cheetah photographic census in the Kruger National Park. The Programme's KwaZulu-Natal Wild Dog Project is expanding the range of Wild Dogs in northern KwaZulu-Natal, with a focus on identifying safe dispersal routes between the networks of protected areas in the province. The Kruger Western Boundary Project focuses on the Wild Dogs moving between the Kruger National Park and adjacent reserves. This project has expanded into the Kruger National Park where population dynamics, habitat use and factors driving the decline in Wild Dog numbers are being investigated.

Another core focus is the conservation of Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus both inside and outside of protected areas. Research has been done in the Thabazimbi area to investigate Cheetah range use and numbers in a cattle and wildlife ranching area. Cheetahs are also included in the Kruger Western Boundary Project. Through its role in the African Cheetah Initiative, the Programme has contributed to national legislation to protect these cats. Cheetahs in small reserves are the focus of studies including sustainability, diet and range use and economics. The Programme manages the National Cheetah Metapopulation, which aims to expand the resident range of Cheetahs in South Africa. Though the Regional Conservation Strategy for Cheetahs and Wild Dogs, the Programme has given input into planning range expansion work in Malawi.

The Waterberg Predator Programme is doing surveys to assess the attitudes of landowners towards carnivores and to understand and measure the impacts of carnivores on livestock and cattle ranches.

The Cheetah and Leopard Trade Project focuses on the extent and impact of trade on these cats. Phase one assessed the legal trade and culminated in a Non-Detriment Finding Assessment for both cats. The CITES Non-Detriment Finding Assessment process is used to determine whether quotas of species affected by trade are justified. Phase two will assess the illegal trade and damage causing animal removal of Cheetahs and Leopards Panthera pardus, as well as abuse of the permitting system for Leopard hunting.

A new focus on otters and their diet is aiming to highlight fresh water ecosystems using otters as flagship species.

The Programme is an active member of various carnivore fora, the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, the Regional Conservation Strategy for Cheetahs and Wild Dogs in Southern Africa, WAG-SA, the African Lion Working Group, the Southern African Wildlife Management Association and the Shashe-Limpopo Predator Research Group.

Conservation Leadership Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Mariette Wheeler (Programme Manager)
Email:mariettew@ewt.org.za

The EWT's Conservation Leadership Programme is a conservation mentorship and training unit that responds to identified skills gaps within the environment and conservation sector.
It does this at three levels:

Conservation Outreach Programme (school learner level):
This project aims to engage with school learners and their educators, and introduce them to the environment and conservation sector as a potential career choice. Selected schools, as identified by the donor XSTRATA, are visited and provided with formal presentations and talks on careers in the sector. Learners from grades 10 to 12 are the focus group, as the information provided enables them to select subjects and set their career and academic aspirations in motion. Additional career information support for school learners will be provided as and when requested.

Conservation Training Programme (career entry level):
This project first started in 1999 by supporting the development of previously disadvantaged individuals who had enrolled for a National Diploma in Nature Conservation to become successful participants in the conservation sector. This focus remains the keystone of this project. Each year an average of 20 second year distance education Nature Conservation Diploma students are supported to gain valuable and relevant workplace learning through a formal vocational curriculum. The project aims to prepare and develop the academic capacity of disadvantaged students by providing work integrated learning experiences and ultimately, possible job placements. Furthermore, the students are encouraged to give back to a selected community project by applying their newly developed skills and knowledge to the benefit of the community, in the spirit of Ubuntu.

Environmental Education Project (educator level):
This project aims to empower rural educators in Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), capacitating them to understand the EE processes and how to support the national curriculum statement. Workshops are run for teachers at schools in the North West Province. Currently, a Gauteng Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) is being developed and will bring together institutions at the regional and local level to jointly promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). RCEs create a local or regional knowledge base to support ESD actors, and promote the goals of ESD in a resource-effective manner.

Healthy Rivers Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)86 714 7866
Contact:
Bridget Corrigan (Project Executant)
Email: bridgetc@ewt.org.za

The EWT's Healthy Rivers Programme was initiated as a response to intensifying freshwater related issues and capacity shortages in South Africa. The Programme is currently working mainly in the North West Province, focusing on the Crocodile-Marico Catchment, which forms the upper reaches of the Limpopo basin. It aims to ensure the long-term ecosystem health of identified freshwater priority areas within the catchment, and mitigate existing and anticipated future threats to river systems in the area. This is critical in order to ensure the ongoing provision of a clean and safe water supply to the surrounding communities and down-stream users including neighbouring countries, and address the challenges of water security for future generations.

Since its inception last year, this three-year project has developed a robust network of stakeholders and has assisted the local community association in the pilot site with the applications to declare a Protected Area and Nature Reserve around a key Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area (FEPA). The EWT is currently working with the provincial conservation department to develop a Biodiversity Stewardship Programme for the North West Province in an effort to streamline the process of formally securing land under conservation. The Programme is also assisting the Orange Vaal River Yellowfish Conservation and Management Association in drafting a Biodiversity Management Plan for the Orange-Vaal Largemouth Yellowfish Labeobarbus kimberleysis. As we build our capacity and resource base, we plan to expand the Programme to initiate other freshwater conservation projects in priority areas and around priority species.

IT4 Conservation Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact: Brenda Daly (Programme Manager)
Email: brendad@ewt.org.za

The EWT's IT 4 Conservation Programme computer and network resources support the EWT's mission by providing effective, easy-to-use information technology infrastructure to deliver knowledge resources and IT services for the benefit of biodiversity conservation in southern Africa.

The Programme has four key focus areas:

• Making biodiversity information more readily available to the conservation community through specialised mission-based support databases and other applications. Projects include the EWT Knowledge Management System, CBSG Global Species Database and the partnership with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (www.gbif.org).
• Maintaining a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the EWT in the long-term so as to ensure effective and proactive conservation planning. GIS technology is integral to communication and collaboration, providing a supportive tool to improve and optimise business processes. GIS forms a key component in the EWT Knowledge Management System, supporting decision making.
• Continually developing and maintaining the EWT Digital Asset Management Plan.Assignments within this key focus area include: the EWT SharePoint portal, an internal content management system; Zotero, the EWT's online bibliography; the EWT website, which includes an external content management system; Goldmine, a customer relationship management system; the Human Resource-Business Performance Tracking System (HR-BPTS); BugTracker , an online tracker service managing and prioritising IT issues for the EWT; the Pastel accounting system and VIP Classic for payroll and human resource management.
• Leveraging IT to streamline operations within the EWT.

Law and Policy Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)21 447 9672
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Anique Greyling (Programme Manager)
Email: aniqueg@ewt.org.za

Against the background of every citizen's right to a healthy environment as enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996), and more fully espoused in the principles of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998, the EWT's Law and Policy Programme aims to equip individuals, communities, governments, and organisations with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to achieve those rights.

The Programme currently has the following focus areas:

Constructively Engaging in Policy, Legal and Administrative Processes Pertaining to Biodiversity Protection:
This is achieved by actively providing comments on proposed draft legislation published as part of the official public consultation process. The comment provided is aimed at ensuring that biodiversity issues are sufficiently addressed in legislative provisions and that fair and equitable public participation processes are in place. In addition, through coordinating the EWT's involvement in various development applications, this includes processes where authorisation is either sought in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 0f 1998 (NEMA) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations or for mining activities in terms of the Mineral Petroleum Resources Development Act, 28 of 2002, the Law and Policy Programme is further contributing to more sustainable decisions being made in this regard.

Capacity Building:
South African legislation requires public participation and consultation in any new prospecting and mining applications. However, many South Africans struggle to understand this complex process and their rights within it. To address this, the Programme, in partnership with leading business law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, has developed the 'Mining Toolkit'. The toolkit takes the form of a website, available at www.miningtoolkit.ewt.org.za, which explains the mining process in simpler terms. This is EWT's the second toolkit, built in response to a need that was identified to help the public understand and participate in the public participation process for various developments. In 2006 we launched our first online interactive guide, the 'EIA Toolkit', based on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations drafted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998. This toolkit is available at www.eiatoolkit.ewt.org.za.

Strengthening Compliance and Enforcement:
This project aims to contribute to the existing environmental governance framework by strengthening compliance and enforcement, facilitating networking among relevant stakeholders, promoting good governance and providing targeted training and capacity building opportunities for stakeholders. It entails networking, capturing and disseminating relevant information, assessing priority areas for focus through a scoping exercise and playing a watchdog role. It also conducts research and analysis of case law and how cases are presented in court with the aim of improving the conviction rate and the adequacy of sentences as a deterrent, and assisting government departments where shortcomings are identified.

Rhino Project:
In recognising a dire need to urgently address the rapidly escalating problem of rhino poaching in South Africa, the EWT is exploring and implementing a variety of activities:

• Support private rhino owners through the development and distribution of an information booklet, intended as a guide to help rhino owners and managers improve security on their properties in a way that is effective and affordable. To order a copy of the rhino booklet please contact Kirsty Brebner on kirstyb@ewt.org.za or 011 327 3600.
• Support investigations into rhino poaching through a rhino poaching hotline (082 404 2128. All information received is channelled to the relevant authorities for investigation and assists with investigations into rhino poaching.
• Support debate and discussions around possible solutions to the poaching problem. To this end the project facilitated a national workshop to: determine the viability of rhino dehorning as a deterrent to poaching; investigate the potential of legalising the trade in rhino horn as a possible solution to curb poaching; and to identify gaps in knowledge relevant to all of the above. It also developed a factsheet on dehorning, available for download on the EWT website at www.ewt.org.za.
• Facilitate the increased deployment and use of sniffer dogs to detect various illegal wildlife products.
• Facilitate training in response to needs as identified.

Marine and Coastal Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Karen Allen (Project Executant: Dugong Emergency Recover Project)
Email: karena@ewt.org.za

The Marine and Coastal Programme began with a project to monitor the status of Humpbacked Dolphins Sousa chinensis, a species often accidently harmed by shark nets off the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Interactions with specialists, government and other NGOs revealed an increasing number of threats negatively affecting oceans and coasts in southern Africa. This has expanded the Programme's focus, and it now works with partners to tackle some of the major threats.

Currently the Programme's core project is the Dugong Emergency Protection Project. Its goal is to secure core Dugong Dugong dugon herds and habitat by mitigating major threats to both, and strengthening existing structures. Based on numerous recommendations for priority conservation actions that are required to curb Dugong mortality, the Project aims to enhance effective law enforcement strategies in Bazaruto in partnership with the National Directorate of Conservation Areas and all other relevant Government Departments and institutions. This course of action seeks to address the most immediate threat to Dugongs: their entanglement in gill nets. In addition, the project seeks to support and enhance other initiatives such as awareness campaigns around sustainable use of marine resources and in particular Dugong conservation, community engagement in conservation, and the identification of alternative livelihoods for fishing communities in collaboration with all relevant partners.

Riverine Rabbit Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)21 447 9672
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Christy Bragg (Programme Manager)
Email: christyb@ewt.org.za

The Riverine Rabbit Programme was established in 2003 to coordinate and manage all conservation efforts for the Critically Endangered Riverine Rabbit Bunolagus monticularis. Comprehensive field surveys in the Western and Northern Cape have discovered new Riverine Rabbit populations in recent years, which have been targeted for future research. The Programme has been developing and implementing awareness and education programmes for all levels of society, building capacity in the local communities, and conducting research on the biology and ecology of the species and its habitat, which is chiefly the Nama and Succulent Karoo.

The Programme has had a strong environmental education role and has helped Karoo schools become environmentally responsible role-players in their communities, and encouraged children to protect and promote threatened species such as the Riverine Rabbit. For example, it has developed a picture-building game entitled Karoo Life as an entertaining educational tool that addresses environmental and conservation issues specific to the Karoo eco-region. In cooperation with and support of the provincial conservation authorities, the EWT's Riverine Rabbit Programme is promoting conservation stewardship in the Karoo region with the aim of building partnerships between landowners, the EWT and the provincial conservation bodies to enhance environmental management on privately and communally owned land. So far the establishment of conservancies has proven to be the most suitable option for Karoo livestock farmers and the current total size of the Riverine Rabbit Conservancy area is about 350 000 ha. More farmers are in the process of applying for membership and a management plan is being developed for conservancies, which will help farmers and conservationists to manage the land sustainably.

One of this Programme's key projects is the Riparian Habitat Rehabilitation Project, which aims to restore degraded riparian habitat in the Riverine Rabbit range. An indigenous plant nursery has been established on municipal grounds in Loxton to provide Karoo plants for the rehabilitation processes. The nursery employs members from the local community who are trained in all aspects of horticulture and nursery management. The project aims to conserve soil and water and to improve the fragile habitat of the Riverine Rabbit using plants grown in the nursery and seeds collected from the Karoo shrublands.

To date, lessons learnt from several hectares of rehabilitated riparian habitat will be taken forward into future rehabilitation work along rivers in the Riverine Rabbit's main distribution areas. Continuation of this work has the support of the local farming community in that the project holds long-term economic benefits through the improvement of grazing land. Proof of the support from the farming community lies in the growing number of farmers joining the Riverine Rabbit conservation effort.

Threatened Grassland Species Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Ian Little (Programme Manager)
Email: ianl@ewt.org.za

The Threatened Grassland Species Programme aims to protect South African grasslands using threatened species as flagships and indicators of grassland health and conservation. Currently, these species include the Critically Endangered Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea, the Endangered Oribi Ourebia ourebi and the Vulnerable Sungazer Cordylus giganteus, and field work concentrates around areas where these species occur in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Mpumalanga.

Grasslands in all their varieties are currently one of South Africa's most threatened biomes, with only 2.2% formally conserved and between 30% and 60% already irreversibly transformed. Highland grasslands are among the most threatened biotopes in South Africa, with only 1.5% formally conserved. They are rich in plant and animal endemics and house five RAMSAR wetland sites. The primary threats to grassland habitat include degradation and conversion as a result of large-scale agricultural development, urbanisation, prospecting and mining.

The benefits of conserving grasslands include the provision of good quality water in large quantities; flood attenuation; carbon sequestration; sustainable livestock grazing; providing thatch grass for the building industry, and providing grasses and sedges that can be used to produce a wide range of arts and crafts. They are also areas of scenic beauty that contain many unique and endemic animals, plants and birds on which the eco-tourism industry is built.

To address the decline in Oribi numbers, the Programme coordinates the relocation of "doomed" Oribi to suitable secure areas. A doomed population is one for which the results of the historically biennial, and in future, annual counts, show a decline in numbers due to threats that cannot be stopped, and where it is clear that the remaining animals will disappear if they aren't moved to a more secure site. Supporting this, the Programme is undertaking active on-the-ground mitigation, education and awareness to minimise illegal hunting with dogs, the primary threat to the Oribi and other species in South Africa. The Programme is working with the University of Pretoria and the FitzPatrick Institute to "tag" (using subcutaneous PIT-tags) Blue Swallows in order to determine the parental relationships between them, and to identify the cause of ongoing population declines in South Africa and throughout the global range. These data will provide valuable information about Blue Swallow breeding habits, such as whether or not they are cooperative breeders or whether only a dominant male and female will breed. This information will be used to guide management action in future. Related to this, the Programme coordinates Blue Swallow nest monitoring in South Africa, which is invaluable in understanding the status of this species and the population trends over time. This work provides support for the effective protection of their grassland habitat.

A new project has been launched whereby an MSc student will be reassessing the conservation status of endemic Sungazer lizards and mapping their distribution in the north-eastern Free State and south-western Mpumalanga. This project is particularly exciting as it is the first reptile species that the EWT has worked on directly.

The Threatened Grassland Species Programme is furthermore involved with strategic grassland stewardship around the Dullstroom (Steenkampsberg) and the Memel area in the Free State. Other broad habitat conservation work revolves around assisting the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) with developing ecosystem guidelines for the Free State and a collaboration with BirdLife South Africa to develop management plans based on specialist bird species throughout the grassland biome.

Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:Tim Snow (Programme Manager)
Email: snowman@ewt.org.za
Cynthia Chigangaidze (Administrator)
Email:cynthiac@ewt.org.za

Reducing the conflicts between humans and wildlife is the primary aim of the Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Programme. It addresses direct human-wildlife conflict issues, proactively works with farmers and communities to minimise and pro-actively address these conflicts. The effects of pesticides on wildlife and the environment is a major concern, and the Programme works closely with government departments and organisations to ensure legal compliance and responsibility in the use of pesticides. The Programme currently runs five projects:

Vegetation Management
This project promotes responsible vegetation management by advising land managers such as Eskom and the timber industry on appropriate and environmentally responsible herbicide choices.

Urban Environments and Badgers
The Urban Environments project has dwindled, having achieved massive success with marketing. However, rather than continue in the face of dwindling sponsorship, our effort has switched to the "badger friendly honey project" which was taken over from the Carnivore Conservation Programme, diverting the focus from research across to verification and certification of badger compatible honey farming. The project is establishing a sustainable system of auditing and accreditation of honey farmers, to ensure that the honey is produced in a manner which is conducive to long term co-existence between farmers and honey badgers.

Poisoning Prevention
This project monitors the scourge of poisoning in the sub-region and also addresses the issue of pesticides in the environment. It incorporates the African Stockpiles Project, running the National Chemical Crime Management Forum, the Multi-stakeholder Committee for Chemical Management and participation in several other government bodies to address chemical management.

Wildlife Conflict Management
This project underpins the Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Programme's existence. The flagship activity in this project is promotion of livestock guardian dogs for farmers, under sponsored project mentorship for year one and then with full handover to the farmers after 12 months. The project addresses conflicts and queries about species ranging from ants to elephants, but with particular emphasis on the carnivore interface. Conflict between land managers and wildlife receives the most attention, but as the group expands its operations into southern and east Africa, more and more community conflicts with wildlife are addressed. The Programme also runs the National Bird Conflict Forum, participates in the Baboon Damage Working Group and remains involved in specialist drafting of legislation related to wildlife damage management.

Animal and Environmental Health
The primary focus of this project is with Operation Oxpecker, which captures and relocates Red-billed Oxpeckers Buphagus erythrorhynchus from areas of abundance to areas of their historical range from which they have been eliminated by inappropriate livestock dipping practices and environmentally harmful pesticides. The receiving area is sensitised by a farmer awareness programme. Aligned to this project is Operation Dungbeetle, which raises awareness about the appropriate choice of veterinary remedies to ensure that residues in droppings are not toxic to dung beetles and other insects. The project is being expanded to address environmental exposure to pesticides, by identification of key indicator mammals, insects and birds which can be monitored to indicate pesticide abuses.

Wildlife and Energy Programme

Private Bag X11 MODDERFONTEIN 1645
Tel: +27 (0)11 327 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Contact:
Megan Diamond (Programme Manager)
Email: megand@ewt.org.za
Marianne Golding (Administrator)
Email: marianneg@ewt.org.za

The Wildlife and Energy Programme conducts groundbreaking work of an international standard. Its primary role is to manage the interactions between wildlife and electrical infrastructure such as power lines. This occurs for many reasons, with the most common problems being electrocution of perched birds and birds colliding with power lines. Birds are also able to cause short circuits in the electricity supply through various mechanisms, which costs both Eskom and the electricity user.

The Programme's main activity is the Eskom - EWT Strategic Partnership, formed in response to increasing concern over wildlife being harmed by Eskom's infrastructure. The Partnership aims to minimise mortalities through research, input into the design of new infrastructure, the replacement of older, more harmful structures, and by collecting and analysing wildlife mortality data. The Partnership also trains Eskom staff in wildlife interactions with their infrastructure. These activities are funded through agreements with various Eskom divisions, and today this partnership stands unique in the world as a successful home-grown solution, designed for an African environment and implemented by Africans.

In addition to this highly successful partnership, the Programme is expanding its activities into other energy sectors, most notably the wind energy sector andhas partnered with BirdLife South Africa to address the potential impacts of our rapidly growing wind energy industry on our birds in South Africa. Our joint approach includes: engaging with the wind energy developers; facilitating the development of best practice guidelines for preconstruction assessment of wind energy impacts on birds; and the development of a sensitivity map for birds and wind energy in South Africa.

Endangered Wildlife Trust Membership

For individual or corporate membership, individual donations or information about our unique adoption programme, enquiries, gift memberships or bequest programme details, please contact:
Vanessa du Plessis: (Head of Fundraising and Marketing)
Tel: +27 (0)11 372 3600
Fax: +27 (0)11 608 4682
Email: vanessab@ewt.org.za