issue 4 – the youth edition june 2017 · 2019. 2. 27. · some children chose to raise money for...

Conservation Matters - Issue 4: The Youth Edition 1

Issue 4 – The Youth EditionJune 2017

Conservation Matters - Issue 4: The Youth Edition1

FEATURES• Thefutureofconservationisbright• Encouragingconservationinanewgenerationoffarmers• ShowcasingourSupporters:IQBusiness

TAILS FROM THE FIELD• MakeasplashforHumpbackDolphins• ShowcasingourSupporters:FordWildlifeFoundationhelpskeepCheetahconservationonthemove

SCIENCE SNIPPETS• Cheetahdatahelptoconnectthedots…• ShowcasingourSupporters:Bakwena

MEET THE PACK• CarolineMfopa• JPLeRoux• MuhammadSeedat

TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Members’ Corner• Membershiprenewalmadeeasy• Events

Pups’Place

In Closing:Mwitu’s Missive

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PhysicalAddress:BuildingK2,ArdeerRoad,PinelandsOfficePark,Modderfontein1609,Gauteng,SouthAfrica,PostalAddress:PrivateBagX11,Modderfontein1645,Gauteng,SouthAfrica

Tel:+27(0)113723600Fax:+27(0)116084682NPO


In the June edition of Conservation Matters,we celebrate youth. The younger generationwho own the future and for whom we needto protect our planet; the inheritors of ourmistakesandthebeneficiariesofoursuccesses.SouthAfricaisamongasmallgroupofcountriesthatupholdsthe intergenerationalrightoffuturegenerationstoasafeandhealthyenvironment,andthroughthehighestlawinourland,remindsusoftheresponsibilitythatweallhavetonotdepletetheresourcestowhichthechildrenofthefuturehaveanequalright.

Intergenerational equity refers to the application offairness between children and adults of today, andbetween generations currently living and generationsyet to be born, based on the premise that youngerpeople will disproportionately experience the negativeconsequencesofenvironmentaldamageincurredbytheactionsoftoday.Theenvironmentalrightsoffuturegenerationscaninfactbetracedasfarbackas1972wheretheStockholmDeclarationtalksabouthumankindbearinga“solemnresponsibilitytoprotectandimprovetheenvironmentforpresentandfuturegenerations”.YetitwouldappearthatwearefarfromembracingthisconceptinaworldwhentheParisClimateAccordisbeingbeatenintosubmissioninsteadofbeingembracedasapathwaytowardsourownsustainability.

In a country like South Africa, where significant challenges concerning theequitabletreatmentofthosealivetodayareyettobeadequatelyaddressed,onemayaskifthereisindeedroomtobeconsideringtherightsofthoseyetborn.Many infactargue,thateconomicdevelopment ismore importantforthewellbeingof future generations thananyenvironmental protection; andotherswouldarguethatnoamountofenvironmentaldegradationcanbeoffsetbyeconomicgainsthatlargelybenefitthelifestylesofpeoplealivetoday.

Whateveryourtakeonthematter,theSouthAfricanConstitutionprotectstherightsoffuturegenerationstoahealthy,ecologicallysustainableenvironment–withtheemphasisbeingonthewords“ecologicallysustainable”.Ecologicallysustainableisdefinedas“…thecapacityofthebiospheretomeettheneedsofthepresentgeneration,withouthinderingfuturegenerationsfrombeingabletomeettheirneeds.”Soinessence,weallhavethedutytokeepourplanethealthy and our environment functioning. Jared Diamond speaks about thecurrentgenerationpotentiallybeingthemostprivilegedtoeverlive.Wehavethebenefitsofthebestmedical, information,communicationsandtransporttechnologies out of any previous generations; but we also won’t face theburdensofaplanetbesiegedbyclimatechange,populationexplosion,naturalresourceconflict,excessivepollutionandchemicalwarfare–unlessweactnow.

Ahealthyplanetandanequitableworld liesat theheartofeverything thattheEWTdoes.ItisinfactourVision.SowhilstwecelebrateYouthMonthandthemanyyoungpeoplefightingfor theconservationofourwildlifeheritageand natural resources, the EWT invites you to join us as we embrace ourConstitutional imperative by ensuring that the future we create has more

opportunitiesandpossibilitiesthanriskandperil.BecomeapartoftheEWTfamilybyloggingontowww.ewt.org.zaandmakeyourmarkonthefuture!

Untilnexttime,Yolan


It’seasytofeelnegativeaboutthestateofourplanetwhenwelookaroundusandseeallthethingsthataregoingwrong.And yet, the young peoplewemeet through ourwork at the EWT give us great hope for the future – these buddingconservationistsarepassionateaboutnotonlytheworkwedo,butfindingwaysinwhichtheycanmakeadifference.IncelebrationofYouthMonth,wecaughtupwithafewoftheyoungpeoplewhohave,inavarietyofways,showntheirsupportfortheEWTandtheenvironment–andconvincedusthatthefutureofconservationisbrightindeed!

The fuTure of conservaTion is brighTBelindaGlenn,[email protected]

Romie Jackson, 11Over the school holidays Romie, from Rietondale Primary School inPretoria,gottogetherwithherfriends,GeadieandDeanCillier,aswellasBrendonParkinsontoformtheSouthernSavers.Theyoungentrepreneursgangedtogethertomakethingstoselltotheirschoolholidayclubfriendsfor nature conservation, buying all the raw materials themselves anddonatingtheirprofitstotheEWT.

Romiesays,“It’simportanttosaveourwildlifebecauseit’sfadingslowlyaway.Thebiggest threats towildlifearepeopleexpandingtheirhomesandcrossingintowildlifeterritory,andpoaching.”

Hanna Wannel, 11HannasoldEWTRelatebraceletsandcapsthatshehadbrandedwiththeEWT’slogoattheChristmasmarketinKasouga,withalltheproceedsfromthebracelets,andhalftheproceedsfromthecapscomingtotheEWT.

Hannasays,“Itisimportanttosaveourenvironmentsothatourgrand/greatgrandchildrengettobeabletoexperienceallthewonderfulthingswehaveseenanddone.Ifwedon’tprotectouramazinganimals,theywilldieandeventuallybecomeextinct.Wealsoneedtoprotecttheplants,whichprovideoxygenandfoodforushumans.Wealsoneedtoprotecttheenvironmentsothatthelivestockhavefoodandgrasstograzeon.Ifwedon’tcareforourenvironmentnow,thenverysoontheozonelayerisgoingtogettoothinandwewillburntodeath.”

Cooper Pax Littleton, 8Coopermakes and sells greeting cards and donates 50% of theproceedstotheEWT.

Cooper says, “Poaching and pollution are very big problems. Itmakesmeverysadtoseeallthepollutiononthebeachesandintheocean.Aperfectfutureforourworldwouldbenopoachingoftheanimals,andwewouldkeepthecityandenvironmentclean.Peoplewould loveand lookafterouranimalsandtheplanetweallliveon.”


Christo Smook, 10Grade4and5learnersatCappellaHousewererecentlygivenaproblemtosolvewhichaskedthemtomakeasmalldifferencetoabigchallengeinourenvironment.Some children chose to raise money for organisations of their choice throughsellingitemsataMarketDay,andChristodecidedtoraisemoneyfortheEWT.

He says, “The biggest threat to our environment is pollution and the killing ofanimals,andaperfectfuturewouldbewherepeoplelivedinharmonywiththeearthanditsanimals.”

Andy Lund, 19Andyrecentlyundertookthechallengeofachievingthetopawardin Scouting in South Africa, the Springbok award. This requiredhim to lead a number of projects, one of which was a 40-hourcommunityserviceprojectwhichhechosetodoatModderfonteinReserve.

Hedecidedto focusonalienplantmanagementanddestructionand says, “The Gauteng Highveld has a fragile indigenousenvironment,whichhasbeendecimatedbyourfootprintthroughthe introduction of alien plant species throughout our history,manyofwhichhavespreadbeyondourcontrol.Aperfectworldwouldbeoneinwhicheveryonehadaccesstoqualityeducationand ignorance of the environment became a thing of the past.One inwhicheveryonedrawsa littlebit of attentionaway fromthemselvesandontothewellbeingofothers.”


St Stithians College is planning a photographic competition and auction later this year, the proceeds of

which will go to the EWT.

Caitlin Noyle, 18CaitlynisheadoftheenvironmentalcommitteeatStStithians,andisinvolvedinplanningabiodiversityweekattheschool.

Shesays,“Thebiggestthreattotheenvironmentisignorance,aspeoplewhodon’tknowhowimportantitistoconservetheenvironment, won’t. A perfect future is one where humanstrytofindabalancebetweenkeepingupwithtechnologyandpreserving the environment and helping people to be moreawareoftheenvironment.”

Christopher Cooper, 17Christopher istheheadofrehabilitationatStStithians.Hisresponsibilities include looking after and fostering animalsthrough the school’s rehabilitation centre and animal arkcentre.

He says, “My biggest concern is the lack of caring,responsibility and respect that humans show for theenvironment, and I dream of a future when everything iseco-friendly,andhumansliveinharmonywithnature.”


The Kloof Senior Primary Eco Club assists the EWT with Kloof Frog monitoring at Crowned Eagle

conservancy every second month.

Jarod McGray, 10“Globalwarming isoneof thebiggestthreatstoourenvironment.Theperfectfuture is onewith lots ofwildlife andplantseverywhere!”

Jayde Nicholls, 11“A perfect future would be nopollution, no threats like poaching,andcrisp,cleanairandenvironment.”

Jenna Beech, 12Jenna says, “We need animals and trees to survive. Ithink factories and pollution are the biggest threat toour environment, and we can all make a difference byrecycling.”

Christina Sauerman, 11Christina says, “We need to protect our environmentbecauseitwon’tjustsaveanimals,itwillsaveus!”

Emily Maritz, 11Christina says, “I think the biggest threat to theenvironment is mankind, because we are taking morethanweneed.Butthethingisyoucan’tjustputupasignthatsays ‘savetheearth’-youhavetospeakup! I thinkaperfectfuturewouldbeonewhereeveryonewhoseeslitter, picks it up, insteadof thinking it’s someoneelse’sproblem; people stop building new buildings andmakeold abandoned buildings beautiful again; and everyonewhocutsdownatreeplantsaseedforanewone.Mostly,aperfectfuture isonewhereweallhavefunsavingtheenvironment.”


Sekoba Secondary School participated in the EWT’s 2016 Rhino Day speaking

competition.

Lesiba Langa, 18“I’vemadeadifferenceby joiningateamof learnerswhoare responsible for the school’s environment. I encourageotheryoungpeopletojoinandmakeadifference,becausewedependonourenvironment–weneedtokeepitcleanforhealthyliving.”

Pontsho Tsebe, 18“Thebiggestthreatstotheenvironmentarehumanimpactslikeburningof fossil fuels,deforestation,pollution,andpoachers.MyteamandIwenttoanearbyprimaryschoolandhelpedthemtodoaclean-up,andtaughtthemaboutwhyit’simportanttolookafterourenvironment.”


Surprise Mabusela,16“It’simportantforustoprotectourenvironmentbecausewecannotsurvivewithoutit.Theprocessofdeforestationisoneofthebiggestthreatsweface,becauseitleadstoanincreaseingreenhousegas,andthisleadstoglobalwarming.Climatechangecanleadtomorenaturaldisasters,whichareathreattousall.”

Tebatso Mamabolo,16“I’ve tried tomake adifference toour environmentbypickinguplitterandencouragingotherstodothesame.Wealsopracticecroprotationandhaveacompostbininthegarden,wherewegetridofallourorganicwaste.”


ENCouRAGING CoNSERvATIoN IN A NEW GENERATIoN of farmersMauritzdeBruin,ThreatenedGrasslandSpeciesFieldOfficer,andEmilyTaylor,GautengBiodiversityStewardshipProjectCoordinatorMauritzD@[email protected]

The loss of natural habitat is one of themost significant threats to the continued existence of South Africa’sincredibleplantsandanimals.Althoughtherestofthecountryismorefamousforitsbiodiversityandsplendour,theGautengProvincecontainsalargenumberofspeciesthataregloballyunique.WhileGautengcontainsgloballysignificantbiodiversity,itisalsotheeconomiccentreofSouthAfricaandindeedoftherestofAfrica.Thepressuresofincreasingeconomicdevelopment,includingtheclearingofnaturalareasforagriculture,residentialdevelopmentsandindustrialpremises,haveledtosignificanthabitat lossandfragmentation,resultinginseverethreatstothesurvivaloftheprovince’swildlife.Anestimated56%ofthenaturalhabitatinGautenghasalreadybeenlost.Only2.2%of the country’s grasslandsare formallyprotected,andmostgrasslandhabitat isprivatelyor communallyowned.Itisthereforeimperative,thatanyeffortstoconservethesethreatenedgrasslandareasconsultandcollaboratestronglywithprivatelandownersandcommunities.

AcombinedteamfromtheEWTandprovincialgovernment, supported by funding fromtheWWFNedbankGreenTrust, isworkingtowards securing valuable biodiversityon privately owned land in Gauteng. Thisproject, known as the Gauteng BiodiversityStewardship Programme (GBSP), aims toestablish positive, proactive and formalisedpartnershipsbetweenconservationauthoritiesandprivateorcommunallandowners.Weaimto support and encourage them to formallycommit to the sustainable management andprotectionofthenaturalresourcesontheirland,forthebenefitofall.

On15March2017,TheEWT’sGBSP teamwasinvited tobeoneof themainexhibitorsat theTransvaalLandbouUnie’s(TransvaalAgriculturalUnion) annual Young Farmers’ Conferenceheld inMidrand.Withmorethan150studentsand young farmers attending, the conferenceprovidedtheteamwithanexcellentopportunityto engage present and future farmers aroundsustainable farming practices, as well as thebenefits that grasslands offer us in terms ofecosystemservices,suchasfilteringandstoringourwater,andbiodiversity.

The theme for this year’s conference was‘SustainabilityfortheNextGeneration,’andwasaimedatencouragingyoung farmers to learnabout themanytoolsavailableforsustainablymanagingafarminthelong-term.Thetopicsdiscussedthroughoutthecourseofthedayincluded:AgricultureandtheEconomyofSouthAfrica;Cattle Industry in SA; YoungFarmers - Theyare theFuture; andMaize StorageandProduction inExtremeWeatherConditions.TheGBSPteamprovidedadviceonhowconservationandagriculturegohand-in-hand,andprovidedmaterialsonsustainablelandusepractices,suchasguidelines


for good fire and grazing managementonfarmsingrasslandareas.

The GBSP is grateful to the TransvaalLandbouUnieforinvitingustosharethedaywiththem,andwehopetoattendmany similar events in the future.We recognise that it is imperativethat conservationists engage withearly career farmers so that goodland management principles areintegratedintofarmmanagementasearlyaspossible.

For more information, please contact Emily Taylor – [email protected] or 011 372 3600

Thank you to WWF Nedbank Green Trust for making this work possible.

About IQ BusinessAt IQ Business, we believe we are redefiningmanagement consulting to be more responsiveto the challenges our clients face. Whether thesechallenges can be tackled by leveraging researchfrom IQ Business and our partners, assigning IQBusinessteamstodesignandimplementsolutions,ordeployingpointexpertisetofillaskillsgap,wewillensurethatourclientsovercometheirbusinesschallenges.Ourteamhelpsbusinessesgrowbysolvingproblemsandfindingnewandbetterwaysofdoingthings.Ourclientsdemandanewvaluepropositionfrommanagementconsultingtobemorecosteffective,faster,andmoreinnovativeandhavepeoplewithrealexpertiseandexperience.

Throughourclientassignments,ourmissionisquitesimplytoaddvalueineverythingwedo.Findoutmorebyvisitingwww.iqbusiness.net

IQ Foundation | the CSR entity of IQ BusinessTheIQFoundationhasadopteda1|1|1philosophyasaholisticapproachtoresourcing,incorporatingprofit(EBITDA),servicesandtime.Ofitsresources,theIQFoundationhascommitted80%tosustainable(proactive)initiativesand20%torelief(reactive)initiatives.Furthermore,theIQFoundationtriestoallocatehalfofitsresourcestohumaninitiativesandhalfofitsresourcestonatureinitiatives.


TheIQFoundationharnessesthepassionofeveryemployeewithinIQBusinesstobuildabetterSouthAfrica.OurmissionistoembodythevaluesofIQBusinessthroughactiveparticipationandsupportofsustainablesocio-environmentalinitiatives.

OneofIQ’sCSRinitiativesissupportingtheEWT.TheinitiativeservestoassisttheEWTintheconservationofnature.Ourmainroleistodonatetime,servicesandfinances-asstipulatedinourownstrategy-toassisttheEWTinreachingtheirowngoalsandstrategies.

IQ-EWT vision:IQ-EWTisaninitiativeforallwildlifeloverswantingtomakeadifference;wecreatetheopportunitythroughtheEWTtocontributetowardsconservationinSouthAfrica.

Above:IQBusinessandtheEWTatacarnivoreconservationawarenessdriveinVaalwaterin2016


make a splash for humpback Dolphins [email protected]

“Look, it’s Zipper! And there’s Pip!” Zipper is a HumpbackDolphinwithauniqueseriesofnotchesonherdorsalfinthat,like fingerprints, make her uniquely identifiable. She is oneof themost frequently seen dolphins at Richards Bay and isshadowedbyhercalfPip.HumpbackDolphinsareSouthAfrica’smostendangereddolphinandit’sbeenourmissiontofindandfollowthedolphins,tophotographtheirdorsalfinsandbuildacatalogueofdistinctiveindividualstogaininsightsintovariousaspectsoftheirecologyandbehaviour.

For Humpback Dolphins, Richards Bay is a hotspot: there’sa relatively high density of dolphins overlapping with a highdensityofanthropogenicthreats.OneofthemainthreatstoSA’sHumpbackDolphinsisincidentaldeathinsharknets(setwiththeaimofreducingsharknumbersnearprotectedbeaches,thusloweringthechanceofencountersbetweensharksandpeopleat those beaches) and this “bycatch” happensmore often atRichardsBaythanelsewherealongKwaZulu-Natal’scoast.We

therefore studied how Humpback Dolphins use the RichardsBay area, because investigating residency (the length of timeindividuals spend in an area) and site fidelity (the tendencyto return to thatarea)canprovidecontext forunderstandingbycatchinsharknets,andyieldinformationtodesigneffectivemanagementstrategies.

Who’s who in the zoo?In eight years, we took 945 good quality photographs andbuilt a catalogue of 109 distinctive Humpback Dolphins. Aclusteringanalysisdecipherednaturalgroupingsofindividualsaccording to how frequently they were photographed. Themajority(80%)clusteredintoagroupofbriefvisitorswecalledtransients,mostlyseenjustonceortwicethoughsomevisitedonceortwiceayearinuptosixyears.Zipperfellintoagroupofeightregularlyseenresidents,allphotographedmorethanfourtimesper year, every year. Lastly, therewas a cluster of15dolphinsthatdidnotfitneatlyintoeithercategorythatwecalledintermediates.

Sometimes we were able to photograph the dolphins thathad died in the shark nets.Of 35 that died in the eight-yearperiod,wephotographed 23, and 16of themhaddistinctivefins: nine wematched to individuals in our catalogue, threewere not matched and four were the calves of cataloguedfemales(dependentcalvesthemselvesarenotincludedinthecatalogue).


Residency, site fidelity and movementWelearnedthatHumpbackDolphinsusethecoastalwatersofRichardsBayrepeatedlyoveravarietyoftimescales.Residencywaslow,withsmallindividualresightingrates—dolphinswereonlypresentforadayortwobeforeleavingthearea—yieldinghigh population turnover over short periods. However, theyreturnedfrequently,indicatinghighsitefidelity,leadingtolowpopulation turnoverover longerperiods.Movementpatternsclearlyvariedamongindividuals:thepopulationusingRichardsBay comprised a small core of residents along with manytransients passing through the area and Humpback DolphinsusingRichardsBayprobably formpartof a largerpopulationusing the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The long-term site fidelityatRichardsBay suggests thearea ispartof a keyhabitat forHumpbackDolphinswithgoodreasontosuspectthattheyareattractedbypreyavailability.

Around 10% of our catalogued individuals died in the sharknets: three residents, five transients and one intermediate.Since 80% of the dolphins in the catalogue were transients(andtheyarepossiblynaïvetothedangerposedbynets),weexpected more transients (and fewer residents) among thebycatch, but this is notwhatwe found.We can’t explain yetwhythedolphinsgetcaughtbutthisdoessuggestthatit’snotjustamatterofbeingunfamiliarwiththenets.

Conservation actionWehavenowidentifiedthedeadliestsharknetandaimtounderstandhowthedolphinsusetheareaaroundthisnet,hopingtoanswerquestions like:which sectionsdo theyusethemost,whatdotheydohere(e.g.feed/travel/rest),andhowoftendotheycome?

This information will be used by the KwaZulu-Natal SharksBoard tomake changes to the net to reduce the number ofdolphindeaths,withoutcompromisingthesafetyofbathers.Toanswerthesequestions,werecently installedavideocameratomonitordolphinsinthisfocalareaandwearebroadcastingwhatthiscameraseesviaourwebsiteconservedolphins.weebly.com.Thisiswhereyoucomein!Weneedhelpfrompeoplewhowould liketohelpsavethedolphins.Themoreeyeswehavewatchingthefootage,themorelikelywearetoseethedolphinsandcollecttherelevantdata.

If youwould like to help, please visit ourwebsite, check outour Frequently Asked Questions and watch the live stream.We’d love tobe in touchwithpeoplewho shareourpassionfor dolphin conservation, so please send us a message withyour thoughts or questions. You can contact us via email:[email protected]:www.facebook.com/conservedolphins

Thank you to the EWT Kelly Legge Dolphin Fund for supporting this work.


Dr.LizanneRoxburgh,SeniorScientist,[email protected]

TheEndangeredWildlifeTrustregularlypublishestheresultsofourconservationscienceresearchinscientificjournals,sothatourworkcancontributetoagrowingbodyofknowledgeonconservationscience.Herewehighlightourmostrecentscientificpublicationsandotherimportantscience-relatednews.

cheeTah DaTa help To connecT The DoTs …DrKellyMarnewick, theEWT’sSeniorWildlifeTradeofficer, completedherPhD in2015,on thehomerangesizeofCheetahsoutsideofprotectedareasinSouthAfrica.SheamassedalargeamountofCheetahmovementdatafromthreefemaleandsixmaleCheetahsfromtheareaaroundThabazimbiinLimpopoProvince,oneofthelaststrongholdsoffree-roamingCheetahsinthecountry.Free-roaminganimalsarethosethatcanmovefreelythroughthelandscapeandarenotrestrictedtofencedreserves.Kellyhascompletedheranalysesofthedataandhaspublishedseveralpapersonherresearch.Wethereforemadethedecisiontomakethesedatafreelyavailableonline,toallowotherresearcherstousethesedata.AsapartneroftheGlobalBiodiversityInformationFacility(GBIF),theEWTpromotesfreeandopenaccesstobiodiversitydata,andthereuseofdata,particularlyforprocessessuchasconservationplanningandmanagementofthreatenedspecies.ThisdatasetnowformsthelargestfreelyavailabledatasetonCheetahoccurrenceontheGBIFplatform,andhasbeendownloadedonaveragetwiceadaysincebeinguploadedtothewebsiteinlate2016.Thedatasethelpstofillgapsinourknowledgeofthedistribution,movementandstatusofthisthreatenedspeciesinAfrica.

Kelly Marnewick, Samantha Page-Nicholson, Lizanne Roxburgh, and Michael J. Somers. 2017. Tracking data from nine free-roaming Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) collared in the Thabazimbi area, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Biodiversity Data Journal.


FoRd WILdLIFE FouNdATIoN HELPS kEEP CHEETAH CoNSER-vaTion on The moveBelindaGlenn,[email protected]

TheFordWildlifeFoundationrecentlyhandedoveranewFordRangerbakkietotheEWT’sCheetahMetapopulationProject,whichworkstoincreasetherange,numbers,andstatusofwildCheetahsinSouthAfrica.ThehandoverformspartofFordMotorCompanyofSouthernAfrica’scommitmenttotheconservationandpreservationoftheenvironmentinSubSaharanAfrica.

Established in 2011, the CheetahMetapopulation Project tacklesCheetah conservation on allfronts, but predominantly focuseson increasing and preservingthe Cheetah population throughtranslocations and reintroductionsof genetically distinct male andfemaleCheetahs intonewareas toestablishhealthypopulations.Currently, the project monitorsCheetahs in 54 reserves, and hascreated over 1 million hectares ofsafe Cheetah habitats. Since itsinception,theprojecthasconductedapproximately150relocations,withthe metapopulation growing to


a stronghold of 350 Cheetahsnationwide. Because of theproject’s efforts, Cheetahsin South Africa are listed asVulnerable whereas in all othercountries in Africa, Cheetah willsoonbelistedasEndangered.

ProjectCoordinator,VincentVanDer Merwe, travels distancesof around 120,000 km a year,relocating these precious catsand ensuring genetic diversityin the population, so this newvehicle from Ford WildlifeFoundation will make the worldof difference to this importantwork! A wonderful handovereventwashostedatCassey’sAutoBenoniFord,wheretheteamisalsopassionateabouttheworktheEWTisdoing.

HugethanksmustgotothemandtheFordWildlifeFoundationfortheirincrediblesupport.


BAkWENABakwenasignedaConcessionContractwiththeSouthAfricanNational Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) to construct,manage,maintain andupgrade theN1 andN4 roads on 4October2000,andto-datehassuccessfullymetandexceededexpectations on the routes. Bakwena offers thousands ofmotoristssaferandmoreefficientroads,whileassistingwithroadside emergencies and collecting tolls. The routes wemanageconsistof95kmofasectionoftheN1runningfromTshwanenorthwardstoBela-Bela(Warmbaths)anda290kmsectionoftheN4runningfromTshwanewestwardsthroughRustenburgandZeerusttotheBotswanaborder.

OursupportfortheEWTcutsacrossmanyprojectsbecauseofthegreatconservationworkthattheydo.WesupporttheEWT’sWildlifeandRoadsProject,whichaddrdessestheimpactoftransportonwildlife;theEco-Schoolswork,whichfocusesonenvironmentaleducationinschoolsaroundHammanskraal;conservationawarenessaroundourroads;andcapacitybuildingfortheEWT.


CARoLINE MFoPA – conservaTion science uniT inTernWecaughtupwithCarolineMfopa,whoisthenewestmemberoftheEWT,andalsotheyoungest,atjust24.Fromaveryyoungage, Caroline was interested in nature documentaries andNationalGeographicchannels.Shewouldaskherselfcountlessquestions like “Who arewe?Where dowe come from?Hasthe earth always been like this?’ After shematriculated, shewasn’t sure what she wanted to study, and so she assessedher interestsandstrengths.Sheknewshewantedtobecomean environmentalist, but didn’t enjoy fieldwork as much assheexpectedto.Atthesametime,sherealisedthattheworkthatcomespriortofielddatacollection,that isanalysinganddrawing conclusions using the computer-aided software,washer initial strength. Since shediscoveredher strengths inGISand data analytics, she has flourished in every GIS relatedcourse she enrolled in. What inspires her about this careerchoiceistheabilitytomakeapositiveimpactoncommunities(e.g. environmental education), biodiversity and ultimatelythe conservation of all species, together with establishing abalancebetweenhumandevelopment/modernisationandtheecosystem.

Her new role as Conservation Science Unit Intern involvesoverseeing datamanagement for some biodiversity datasets,providing on-demand GIS support to programmes, assistingwith GIS training programmes, analysing datasets and co-authoringscientificpublications,andnetworking.

What excites you about this new position?I hope to gain knowledge and expertise in the wildlifeconservation field, as well as knowledge of the variousprogrammes that make up the work of the EWT, and theirimportance to nature conservation. I’m also really lookingforwardtoaccumulatingknowledgeofbiodiversityGISdatabasemanagement, and other data standardisation criteria used inSouthAfricaandinternationally,particularlyinthebiodiversitysector. I lookforwardto learningabouttheapplicationofGISinnatureconservationandenvironmentalimpactassessment;mostimportantlyhowGIStechniquescanbeappliedtoanalyseor rather solve these issues. This position will offer me theexcitingopportunity tobecomea seasonedprofessional, andlearnhowtoworkwithavarietyof individuals fromdifferentstudybackgrounds.Most importantly, I lookforwardtobeingableto lendahand insavinganimalspeciesfromthethreatstheyface.

What are you passionate about?OneofthemostprominentenvironmentalissuesIhavealwaysbeenpassionateabout istheenvironmental impactofminingontheecosystemandnearbycommunities.Myinitialconcernshavealwaysbeenaroundthetypesofminingprocessesusedforextraction;therehabilitationofclosedmines,which leadsto various environmental complications such as acid minedrainageandundergroundcoalfieldfires;andmostimportantly

whetherthesemineswereestablishedonthebasisofnationalenvironmental legislature, and whether they comply to therelevant environmental acts of South Africa. The impact ofmining ranges far from just being environmental concerns tobeingathreattohumanhealth.

If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why? ThelatepresidentNelsonMandela–hispatience,wisdomandawillingnesstosacrificeforothersinspiresme.

What advice would you give to a young person who wants to work in conservation?To pursue a career in nature conservation, you need to beinterested intheenvironment,willingtoworkunderextremeweatherconditions(e.g.befit),andbeateamplayer.

Most importantly, if nature conservation is a field you havealwaysbeenpassionateabout,youshouldgoaheadandpursueit! Ecotourism isoneof the fastestgrowingmarkets in SouthAfrica so do not listen to people’s ideas about conservationnothavingenoughjobs.Takingintoaccounttheresourceswehave as young people today, we could use our social mediatoeducateothersaboutnatureconservationandinthesamesenseshareideasonsuchplatformsthatcanbringaboutglobalsustainabledevelopment.Whatmakes the future sobright istheabilitytoinnovateandthinkbeyondourmental/communalrestrictions tobringaboutenvironmental ideas and solutionsthatcanbeapplicableonaglobalscale.InthefamouswordsofanAncientChineseSageConfucius“Chooseajobyoulove,andyouwillneverhavetoworkadayinyourlife!”


JP LE Roux – SouRCE To SEA programme marico caTchmenT conservaTion projecT coorDinaTorJPLeRouxistheEWT’ssecondyoungeststaffmember,havingjustturned25.HegrewupinthesmalltownofSwartruggensintheNorth-WestprovinceandwenttoSwartruggensCombinedSchool,whichatmosttimeshasamaximumof350studentsfromgradeoneallthewayuptograde12.Hisfavouritesubjectwasbiologybecause itwas theonlyone thathad todowithplants and animals – sparking his interest in the world ofconservation.Afterschool,hewenttostudyattheNorthWestUniversity Potchefstroom, where he had to decide betweenenvironmental science and veterinary science, Veterinarysciencelostbecause,ashesays,youcanonlysaveoneanimalat a time, and hewanted to save them all! After getting hisdegree,hegothisfirstjobdoingrestorationandrehabilitationof riparian habitats along the Groot-Marico River. He wasecstatic tohave founda jobworkingona river thatheknewandloved,ashehasfondmemoriesofswimmingandfishing

thereasachild,andlisteningtostoriesaboutHermanCharlesBosmanandWaterbobbejaan.TheprojectheworkedforwaspartofanExpandedPublicWorksProgramme,whichhejoinedinitsfinaltwoyears.Astheprojectcametoits lastmonthofoperations,hewasunsurewhathewoulddonext.ThisiswhenheheardaboutapositionattheEWT,workingontheSourcetoSeaProgrammeinGroot-Marico.Hedescribesthisasadreamjoboutoftheblue!HisworkwiththeEWThasmadehimrealiseallthethreatstheMaricoRiverisexposedto,andheiscurrentlystudyingforhisHonoursinEnvironmentalManagement,whichhashelpedhimtobetterunderstandandstopthesethreatstothearea.

His current role,which he has held for the past year, entailsoverall management of the Marico Catchment ConservationProject, creating awareness for aquatic biodiversity andintegrated water resource management with landownersand community members, conducting regular river healthsurveys, supporting the development of sustainable businessmodels,andhelpingcommunitiestodiversifytheirlivelihoods,which includes facilitating training andmentorship formicro-enterprises. He also provides support to the catchmentmanagement forum,making itmore inclusive. JP’swork also


focuses on Informationdissemination through citizen sciencebyestablishingandsupportingeco-clubsattheschoolsinthearea,andheworkswithemergingfarmers,providingsupportandmentorshipintheformoftrainingespeciallyaroundmoreclimateresilientfarmingpractices.

What excites you about this position?IlovethatIamabletoworkinanareathatisveryimportanttome,playinganactiveroleintheconservationoftheMaricoCatchment. TheMarico River is the last free flowing river inthewhole ofNorthWest andhas becomea flagship river ofnationalimportanceduetoitsgoodcondition,highbiodiversityandculturalvalue.Workingoutinthefieldisthebestpartofmyworkbecauseyougettoseesomethingneweveryday(andthereisnotrafficinMarico).Anothergreatpartofmyworkisengagingwithcommunitymembersbothyoungandold,andteaching them about conservation. I especially love workingwithchildren,theyarealwayssokeentolearnsomethingnew.

What are you passionate about?I am very passionate about conservation as a whole andworking inanareawhereyoucanmakeapositivedifferenceinanenvironmentand in the livesof thepeople living there.

Conservationofall species is important tome,especially theonesthatnoteveryonelikes,suchassnakes…ifthereisasnakesomewhereinneed,Iwanttosaveit!Thispassionhasgrownover theyears fromhavingpetsnakesasachild tocapturingandrelocatingthem,andcreatingasmuchawarenessaroundthemaspossible.

If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why? Sir David Attenborough. I grew up watching his naturedocumentaries,andwantedtobejustlikehim.Iwouldprobablyaskhimamillionquestionabout theplaceshehasbeenandseen.Andifwegetbored,wecanmakeadocumentaryaboutgettingstuckinanelevator.

What advice would you give to a young person who wants to work in conservation?Ifyouarereallypassionateaboutprotectinganimalsandnature,gettingintoconservationisthewaytogo.It’soneofthemostfulfillingjobsyoucanhave,andit’saplacewhereyoucanreallymakeadifference.Whenyouaredoingsomethingyoulove,itneverfeelslikework.


www.facebook.com/EndangeredWildlifeTrust

MuHAMMAd SEEdAT - EWT TRuSTEEWealso chatted toMuhammadSeedat,who is the youngestofour EWT trustees at 35.Muhammad is the CEO of Smartrac, acompanyhefoundedeightyearsago,whichhasblossomedsincethen.Smartracisadiversified,multi-brandedprofessionalservicescompany and operates throughout the country. Muhammadenjoyscyclingandroadrunning,andlovesspendingtimewithhiswifeZaheeraandchildren,AhmadandMariam.HeservesontheBoardof the InstituteofDirectors of SouthernAfricawith EWTCEO,YolanFriedmann,andsaysthatitwasherimmensepassionforconservationthatfuelledhisdesiretobecomeanEWTtrustee.

What does being an EWT trustee mean to you?It means being a custodian of the organisation and executingmy fiduciary responsibilities to the best of my ability, withprofessionalism.

What/who do you find inspirational?I findmanybusiness leaders inspirational. I use a little bit fromeachoneofthemtotrytobeabetterpersoneveryday.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?IwouldgototheholylandsofSaudiArabia,astheinnerpeaceyoufindtherecannotbeexplained.

What advice would you give your younger self?Listenmorethanyoutalk.


CoNSERvATIoN LEAdER FRoM SouTH AFRICA WINS 2017 WHITLEY AWARd

Prize awarded for protecting South Africa’s threatened grassland biodiversity

London,UK:17May2017–HRHThePrincessRoyalwilltomorrowpresentaWhitleyAward,aprestigiousinternationalnatureconservationprizeworth£35,000 inproject funding, to IanLittleataceremonyattheRoyalGeographicalSociety,London, inhonourofhisworktoprotectSouthAfrica’sthreatenedgrasslands.

Demand for freshwater isexpected tooutstrip supply inSouthAfricaby2025.TheEasternGreatEscarpmentofSouthAfricaprovidescatchmentservicesforthreeofthecountry’slargestrivers,makingitavitalsourceofwaterforcitiessuchasDurbanandJohannesburginoneoftheworld’smostaridnations.Astheworld’sthirdmostbiodiversecountry,thesegrasslandssupportaplethoraofplantsandanimalsfoundnowhereelse,includinggoldenmolesandthesungazerlizard.Despitetheirimportance,lessthan3%ofgrasslandsinSouthAfricaareprotected.Intensivelivestockfarming,coalminingandgasexplorationareinflictinguntolddamage–withfrackingnowanimminentthreat.

Dr Ian Little of the EndangeredWildlifeTrustworkswith farmersto champion conservation ofgrassland habitat. Working withfarmers and tribal leaders, Ian isbuilding capacity for sustainablefarmingandintroducingimproved


management practices, such as less intensive grazing and burning regimes to decrease pressure on grasslands and boostproductivity.Hehasalreadysecured60,000hectaresofgrasslandforconservationpurposes;afigureIanplanstoincreasewithhisWhitleyAwardbycreatingacorridoroflegallyprotectedareaslinkingwithothersalongtheescarpment.Indoingsohewillsafeguardthesegrasslandsandtheimportantsourceoffreshwatertheyprovide.

EdwardWhitley,FounderoftheWhitleyFundforNature,said:“WFNfocusonconservationsuccessstorieswhichgiveusareasonforoptimism.TheAwardsCeremonyisaboutrecognisingprogress–winningthosesmallbattleswhichcumulativelyequatetochangeatthenationallevel.InadditiontothefinancialbenefitofwinninganAward,winnersreceiveprofessionalcommunicationstrainingtoturnscientistsintoambassadors,sotheyareabletocommunicateeffectivelywiththepublicandinformchangeatthepoliticallevel.”

Ianisoneofsixindividualstohavebeenawardedashareoftheprizemoneyworth£210,000,winningtheWhitleyAwarddonatedbytheGarfieldWestonFoundation.

SirDavidAttenborough,aTrusteeoftheWhitleyFundforNature,added:“Itisnowmoreimportantthanevertoinvestinthoseworkingtoprotectourplanet.TheWhitleyFundforNatureisattheforefrontofsupportingtheseheroicindividuals.”

CONTACT:

DrIanT.LittleSeniorManager:HabitatsEndangeredWildlifeTrustSouthernandEastAfricaregionalchair,CommissiononEcosystemManagement:IUCNW+27217998460Email:[email protected]:www.ewt.org.za


MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL MAdE EASYJoelThosago,[email protected]

Theprocessof renewingyourEWTmembershipdoesnotneed tobeadmin intensiveortimeconsuming.Youwill receiveaninvoicefromus,andit’sasimplematterofmakingpaymentusingyourmembershipnumberasareference.

Paymentsruntheriskofbeingmisallocatedifnamesorsurnamesareusedasreferences,aswemayhavememberswithsimilarnamesandsurnames.Invoicenumbershavetheirlimitationstoo,astheychangewitheachyear’srenewalandit’seasytoforgettoupdatethisinformationinthereferencefield.Yourmembershipnumberremainsthesameeachyear,andcanbefoundaftertheaddressonyourinvoice.

Aneveneasieralternativeissigningupfordebitordermembership,meaningthepaymentwillbeautomaticallymadefromyouraccountwhenyourmembershipisupforrenewal.Thismeanslessadminhassleforyou!Youarewelcometogetintouchshouldyouhaveanyqueriesregardingdebitorders,ormembershipingeneral,byemailingJoelT@ewt.org.zaorcalling0113273600.YourcontributionhelpsustomakeConservationinActionpossible.

Thank you to all our incredible members for your ongoing support – you are the lifeblood of the EWT!


environmenTal Days• 11July2017:WorldPopulationDay• 16July2017:WorldSnakeDay• 26July2017:InternationalDayfortheConservationofMangroveEcosystems• 31July2017:WorldRangerDay• 5-12August2017:NationalScienceWeek• 10August2017:WorldLionDay• 12August2017:WorldElephantDay

counTry club johannesburg Talks• 4July2017:Wildlifecrime–thescopeoftheissuefromsourcetoconsumerstates• 1August2017:Menandmambas–sharingsomefactsabouttheBlackMamba

EWT EvENTS• 21July2017:EWTeaandTalkatEWTheadoffice,Modderfontein–WorkingwithWildDogs• 20October2017:EWTeaandTalkatWalterSisuluBotanicalGardens–BirdsofPrey• 19November2017:947CycleChallenge


Supporters can now donate to the EWT quickly and safely, using SnapScan. All you need to do is:

1. DownloadtheSnapScanapplicationonyoursmartphone.

2. Registerwithyourdetails–thisshouldtakenomorethanafewminutes.

3. ScanourEWTbarcodetomakeyourdonationintheamountofyourchoice(besuretochoosedonationratherthane-shopfromthedropdownmenu)–you’llbeaskedtoenteryourPINsoyouknowthetransactionissecure.

BEANIER54

BODUMTRAVELPLUNGERMUG

R390

MAGICMUGR160


riDe for a purpose

WEAR YouR PAW WITH PRIdE!TheEndangeredWildlifeTrustneedsYOU!Areyouupforthechallenge?

SUNDAY19NOV2017-RIVERSANDS,JOHANNESBURGWHAT You NEEd To do• Registerontheofficialwebsitewww.cyclechallenge.co.zaENTRYFEE=R475• RaiseaminimumofR1,000insponsorshipsanddonations,butthesky’sthelimit!• PurchaseaEWTCycleshirtifyoudonothaveone.ShirtpriceisR450.Youcaneitherbuyfromouronlinestore

www.ewtshop.co.zaoratourofficebetween9h00and14h00,MondaytoFriday.• OnceyouhaveenteredpleaseemailMarionBurgeratmarionb@ewt.org.zawithyourcontactdetails.• Pleasevisitourwebsiteformoreinformationanduseouronlineformtofillinallyourdetailsandshirtsize.

cosT per riDer• Entryfee–R475• Minimumfundsraised–R1,000• Cycleshirt(ifyoudon’thaveone)–R450

HoW ARE WE SuPPoRTING ouR RIdERS?• Dedicatedstartingtime• Goodiebag:T-shirt&COVERDERMsunblock• Appreciationfunctionaweekbeforetherace• CollectyourgoodiebagattheCOVERDERMstandattheEXPO• Hospitalitytentattheendoftheroadracewithdrinksandfood• WaterpointonWitkoppenRoadwithextragoodiestoeatanddrink

NAILMETICSCCDistributorinS.ATEl:0124601220|Email:[email protected]

www.coverderm.co.za


Colour me in and share your artwork by emailing [email protected] or tagging @EndangeredWildlifeTrust on Facebook!


In Closing:Mwitu’s MissiveDearReaders

Beingnotmuchmorethanapupmyself,italwaysmakesmeexcitedtoseethepassionouryouthhasforconservation,andfortakingactionforthethingstheybelievein.Ihopeyou’vefoundthiseditionasinspiringasIdidwhileputtingittogether!Thereislotstobedone,butIthinkwecancountonyoungpeopletohelptakeusintherightdirection.

Wedidn’tonlycelebrateYouthDayinJune,though,wealsocelebratedWorldEnvironmentDay(5June)–nowthat’sdefinitelyone thatweshouldbecelebratingevery singleday!The themewasConnectingPeoplewithNature,whichopensupa reallylovelyopportunitytothinkabouthowweareallpartofnature,andallconnectedtoeachotherinthisway.IhopethiseditionofConservation Mattershashelpedyoutofeelmoreconnectedtotheworkwe’redoingattheEWT.Asalways,we’dloveyoutogetintouchandshareyourthoughtsorquestions.YoucandropmeamailatMwitu@ewt.org.za

‘Tilnexttime

Mwitu

Visitourwebsiteformoreinformationatwww.ewt.org.zaor

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PhysicalAddress:BuildingK2,ArdeerRoad,PinelandsOfficePark,Modderfontein1609,Gauteng,SouthAfrica,PostalAddress:PrivateBagX11,Modderfontein1645,Gauteng,SouthAfrica

Tel:+27(0)113723600Fax:+27(0)116084682NPO

issue 4 – the youth edition june 2017 · 2019. 2. 27. · some children chose to raise money for...

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