Endangered Wildlife Trust - Conservation in action
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a nn ua l conservation r eport of t he
Endangered Wildlife Trust
Conservation in action
Table of
Contents
Messages from the Chairman and CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Human Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Fundraising and Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Conservation Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Strategic Industries Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1. Airport Wildlife Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2. Wildlife and Energy Interactions Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Indicator Species and Critical Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3. Birds of Prey Working Group
incorporating the Ground Hornbill Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4. Blue Swallow Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5. Carnivore Conservation Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6. Marine and Coastal Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7. Oribi Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
8. Riverine Rabbit Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
9. South African Crane Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
People and the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
10. Conservation Leadership Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
11. Wildlife Conflict Prevention Group and the Bat Conservation Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Advocacy, Policy and Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
12. Law and Policy Working Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
International Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
13. African Cranes, Wetlands and Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
14. Conservation Breeding Specialist Group Southern Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
National and Regional Coordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
15. Biodiversity Stewardship South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
16. KwaZulu-Natal Biodiversity Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Biodiversity Research Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
17. Giant Bullfrog Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
18. Impact of Electric Fences on Small Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
19. Analysis of the Trade in Porcupine Quills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Other Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
International Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Contributions to Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
List of Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
We would like to thank the EWT staff
Sponsors and Supporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 members and friends who so willingly
Map of project/staff locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside back cover gave us their photographs for this report.
Message from the Chairman 2007 WAS THE 34TH YEAR of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s existence. From the forma- tive days, we have grown into a powerful force for conservation in Africa. Throughout the pages of this report you will see ample evidence of the difference we are making and the plans we are setting to have an even greater impact in the future. The EWT quite deliberately ranges in its focus from the micro to the global macro; from Giant Bullfrogs to climate change. We do this because we profoundly understand that progress must be made on all levels. I am pleased to tell you that the Trust has never been in better shape in every re- spect. This is the result of an all round team effort from our sponsors, donors and indi- vidual members supporting our work, to our conservation partners, government at all levels and the communities in which we work. What has always distinguished the EWT throughout its history is that we get things done – we are an organisation committed to “doing” because we know that while plans, policies and meetings create a platform, it is only when someone takes action that change finally happens. This report is full of our “doing”. As Chairman of the EWT, my primary tasks are to ensure that the organisation is governed to the highest standards and that we pick the right people to lead it from an executive perspective. On the governance front we have an excellent and engaged board elected by a strong and rapidly transforming body of trustees. With respect to executive leadership, our CEO, Yolan Friedmann, and her team are doing superb work in growing our impact and relevance. As always with the environment, the challenges continue to grow faster than we can address them. It is the price we are paying as human beings for having chosen a way of living on this planet that is fundamentally unsustainable. Perhaps that is our great- est challenge to address and your continuing support of the work of the EWT is vital in ensuring we play our role in doing so. Thank you. P. Mark Drewell MA (Oxon) Chairman
Message
from the CEO
MY FIRST YEAR AT THE HELM of the EWT was challenging, exciting and gratifying and,
as always, was marked by the wonderful sense of passion, team work and camaraderie
that characterises the staff members and volunteers who are at the heart of this wonder-
ful organisation. During the past year this staff complement has continued to grow as
the EWT embarks on numerous new conservation programmes and projects throughout
southern Africa. This is both a good and bad sign. Good in that the EWT continues to
be regarded as one of the best performing conservation NGOs in the region and is thus
a strong candidate for developing partnerships, implementing work programmes and
delivering best practice on the ground. However it is also a bad sign in that the decline
in our natural resources is continuing and the loss of biodiversity in the region is ongo-
ing. The release of the 2006 South African Environmental Outlook in June 2007 revealed
the parlous state of South Africa’s natural resources and critical ecosystems with ongoing
declines in ecosystem functioning, freshwater resources, air quality and marine systems;
increased land degradation and critical biodiversity loss; increases in greenhouse gas
emissions and invasive aliens and the very serious increase in our per capita ecological
footprint. This unfortunately some would say, simply increases the need for organisations
like the EWT to exist and to provide workable solutions to the myriad problems which are
collectively driving the ecological crisis of this new millennium.
The EWT was a key contributor to this report and is tirelessly working to contrib-
ute to a reversal of these trends by the next edition. This 2007 Conservation Report
covers the wide variety of activities undertaken by the EWT staff throughout 2007 to
address these issues, and provides a snapshot into ‘a year in the life’ of what real, field
based Conservation in Action is all about. The EWT Working Groups, through their ex-
tensive network of partners, associates and stakeholders continue to tackle the myriad
challenges which face our wildlife and natural systems as humanity spreads its impact.
There are many positive stories however, from the expansion of the Wild Dog’s range in
KwaZulu-Natal, to the graduation of the first female trackers in South Africa in Lilydale;
from the fantastic public participation in tagging and resighting vultures to the discov-
ery of new localities of Riverine Rabbits in the Western Cape.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank every member of the EWT staff, our vol-
unteers and friends, our colleagues and our members and very importantly, our spon-
sors and donors. This report is testimony to how hard you have worked, how much we
have all achieved and how much we all care for this very fragile planet we call home.
Yolan Friedmann
Endangered Wildlife Trust
CEO
Introduction
THE ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST (EWT) is a non-governmental, non-profit, con-
servation organisation, founded in 1973 and operating throughout southern Africa.
The EWT conserves threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa by initi-
ating research and conservation action programmes, implementing projects which
mitigate threats facing species diversity and supporting sustainable natural resource
management. The EWT furthermore communicates the principles of sustainable liv-
ing through awareness programmes to the broadest possible constituency for the
benefit of the region.
The EWT has developed a unique operational structure through which the Mis-
sion and objectives of the EWT can be achieved. The EWT achieves its conservation
goals through specialist, thematic Working Groups, designed to maximise effective-
ness in the field and enhance the development of skills and capacity. These Working
Groups form the backbone of the organisation and are essentially self-managed pro-
grammes harnessing the talent and enthusiasm of a dynamic network of individuals
who specialise in an area of conservation importance and have developed unique
expertise in response to the challenges they face. Working Groups comprise multiple
stakeholders and harness their diverse but relevant expertise to address environmen-
tal priorities. Stakeholders include national and provincial government, landowners,
local communities, farm workers, conservancies, academic institutions and industry.
The EWT also acts as a public watchdog, often taking government and industry to
task for decision-making, which does not meet sustainability criteria.
The EWT currently addresses, through its 14 Working Groups, which collectively
coordinate around 90 projects, and its core functions, the following key focal areas:
■ Strategic Industry Partnerships
■ Indicator Species and Critical Ecosystems
■ Research and Technology
■ International Partnerships
■ Advocacy, Policy and Governance
■ People and the Environment
Contact ■ Governance and Environmental Empowerment
Endangered Wildlife Trust ■ National and Regional Interventions
(011) 486 1102
ewt@ewt.org.za The following pages of this report provide details of the work of each of the working
www.ewt.org.za groups with these focal areas.
Annual Conservation Report 2007
7
Diagram EWT Organisational Structure in 2007
Board of Management
EWT Chief Executive Officer
Executive Assistant
Conservation Governance
Working Group Conservation HR Manager Fundraising Manager Finance &
Managers / Coordinators Coordinators Governance Manager
Field Officers / • Corporate FR Coordinator Bookkeeper
Biodiversity Frontline / Reception
Researchers / WG admin • Special Events Coordinator
Research Projects (Office Admin)
personnel • Fund-raising Liaison Officer
• PR & Marketing Coordinator
• Membership Manager
• Finance/Membership Coordinator
The EWT fulfils its Mission by:
■ Initiating and implementing conservation research and action programmes;
■ Preventing species extinctions and maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem func-
tioning;
■ Supporting sustainable natural resources use and management;
■ Communicating the principles of sustainable living and empowering people by ca-
pacity building, education and awareness programmes to the broadest possible
constituency;
■ Taking a strong leadership and advocacy role in promoting environmental and so-
cial justice.
The EWT thus works broadly across the environment with a clear focus on areas
of greatest national and regional conservation importance. Each programme links to
key regional environmental issues such as water conservation, sustainable agriculture,
community-based natural resource management, capacity building and other key ten-
ets in the many international conventions to which South Africa is party. These include
the Convention on Biological Diversity, the RAMSAR Wetlands Convention and the Con-
vention in Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). Furthermore, the
EWT implements programmes which aid South Africa and neighbouring SADC coun-
tries to achieve the social development targets of the Millennium Development Goals
and the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Human
Resources
Introduction
The EWT’s human resources activities are guided by the organisation’s Mission and Vi-
sion and the strategic goals identified in its 2005 strategic plan. The EWT, unlike many
South Africa-based environmental NGOs, has a fully integrated human resources service
and manages its human resource portfolio internally. In addition to traditional tasks such
as appointments, payroll operations and employee relations, the EWT human resources
service includes staff development services and equity.
The human resources department is actively involved in the EWT’s planning and
decision-making processes, ensuring that all aspects of the human resources portfolio
are kept in line with the EWT’s growth strategy.
Staff Development
Training
The EWT is committed to the ongoing development of all staff, to improve productiv-
ity as well as broadening the employee skill base and uplifting morale. During 2007,
134 certified training courses where attend by our staff, with a total of 88% of the staff
members participating in one or more courses.
These included a range of courses and workshops that focused on skills development
for the individuals and the organisation, such as Computer Courses (by New Horizon) in-
cluding HTML (Level 4), Microsoft Word (all levels), Outlook (Levels 1–8), Microsoft Excel
(all levels) and Photoshop. Courses relating to more general skills such as ‘Project Man-
agement for Office Professionals’, ‘Telephone and voice skills’, ‘Writing Reports Effectively’
Figure 1 Proportion of staff attending at least one training course in 2007
Black Female
Indian Female
White Female
African Male
Indian Male
Contact
White Male
Alison Jänicke
Tel: +27 (0)11 486 1102 0 10 20 30 40
Fax: +27 (0)11 486 1506
■ Employees on Training Courses ■ Total Employees per Category
Email: alisonj@ewt.org.za
Annual Conservation Report 2007
9
and ‘Advance Meeting and Minute taking’ were offered by Siyangoba Seminars – Provid-
ing learning solutions, focusing on the needs of each individual. These were compli-
mented by some courses through the Gordon Institute for Business Science such as ‘Project
Management’, ‘Building a Strategy’ and ‘CSI Practice in South Africa’. A new partner in
2007 was Psaros Communications, who offered EWT staff a course on ‘Finance for non-fi-
nancial managers’. Finally, some EWT staff attended more specialised courses addressing
specific topics, such as ‘Anti-Hijacking’, ‘First Aid’, ‘Presentation Skills’ by Adrian Steed and
‘Basic GIS training’. Partnerships with these training institutions were reaffirmed in 2007
and without the loyal support of these institutions we would not have reached our very
ambitious goal.
In addition, several staff members are pursuing post graduate degrees, either directly
related to their work within the EWT or part-time over and above their work at EWT. In
2007 12 staff members were pursuing a Master of Science degree, 3 a PhD and one each
a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business Administration at various
academic institutions throughout South Africa as well as 2 international institutions.
Acknowledgement of Achievements
The EWT acknowledges the achievements of its employees and recognises the impor-
tance of employees acknowledging their peer’s achievements. The EWT therefore awards
both Working Groups (EWT Working Group of the Year) and individuals (EWT Conserva-
tion Achiever of the Year and Thembi Morgan Team Player of the Year) annually on Con-
servation Day. Further, EWT employees nominate colleagues on a monthly basis to be
awarded a Conservation Achiever certificate for their outstanding achievement and this
has become an important and sought after award amongst staff members. All recipients
of the monthly certificates are eligible for the Conservation Achiever of the Year Award.
The EWT’s annual Conservation Week was held in November 2007 and incorporat-
ed staff training courses, team building events, project displays, poster presentations,
the Annual Conservation Day (open to all donors, members and the media) and the
annual staff party. The week culminated in the presentation of the EWT’s annual staff
awards as well as the launch of the 15th Vision annual. The annual EWT staff awards
were awarded as follows:
■ EWT Working Group of the Year 2007 – EWT-Birds of Prey Working Group (BoPWG)
■ EWT Conservation Achiever of the Year – Samson Phakati (CLG)
■ Conservation Achiever of the Year Merit Award – Brenda Daly (CBSG, IT)
■ Thembi Morgan Team Player of the Year Award – Graeme Wilson (CLG)
Recruitment and Promotions
The EWT grew from 65 employees at the end of 2006 to 70 employees at the end of
2007, indicating a growth of 7,7%.
The EWT remains dedicated to redressing the inequalities of South Africa’s apart-
heid past by giving preference to suitably qualified people from designated groups but
10 Endangered Wildlife Trust
Figure 2 Demographic Breakdown of Total EWT Staff Compliment in 2007
50
40
Number of Staff
30
not excluding non-designated groups.
20
The EWT has always recognised that
it is vital for all employees to have equal
10
access to promotional opportunities, and
0 has ensured that vacancies are advertised
White Indian African White Indian African internally first. Great lengths have been
Female Female Female Male Male Male
taken to ensure that each employee’s
personal development goals are met.
The year 2007 saw a total of six (3%) of our
Figure 3 External appointments showing the ratio between previously
disadvantaged individuals and non-previously disadvantaged individuals available positions being filled internally
by promoting employees and providing
20 the necessary guidance and training to
prepare them for more senior posts.
15
Employment Equity and
10 Growth of Previously
Disadvantaged Individuals
5 Negotiations began in 2007 with Em-
powerdex, which was South Africa’s First
0 BBBEE ratings agency, to generate a BB-
2006 2007
BEE rating for the EWT in 2008 to ensure
■ Previously disadvantaged individuals ■ Non previously disadvantaged individuals that we are in line with the principles of
good corporate governance and that we
are also better able to address any imbal-
ances in the organisation. With the continuous growth in the EWT’s staff compliment in
recent years, a total of 18, out of 26 (replacement, promotion, new) staff were from the
previously disadvantaged individual (PDI) group (see Figure 3), which accurately reflects
our commitment to transformation.
The Conservation Leadership Group (CLG) is a Working Group of the EWT which
has, over the years established itself as a leading conservation training and em-
powerment provider for previously disadvantaged people. The CLG is dedicated
to capacitating disadvantaged individuals through mentorship and training pro-
grammes that lead to progressive careers in conservation, eco-tourism and envi-
ronmental education, thereby mobilising a network of future leaders for environ-
mental responsibility and sustainable living. In 2007, 20 students, including seven
women, graduated from the Group’s Tracker Training Programme. Five of these
have already secured employment with game lodges around their local communi-
ties, while other lodges have expressed interest in employing the remaining 15 as
soon as they have obtained their driver’s licences, something that forms part of the
programme. More details on the programmes and student successes is given in the
CLG report included herein.Annual Conservation Report 2007
11
Above EWT staff on Field Workers Day 2007
We believe that our efforts are correctly focused not only for the good of the EWT
but for the South African conservation sector as a whole, by ensuring that tomorrow’s
conservation leaders get the right training and mentorship today, to the benefit of all.
Organisational Development
Working Group Name Changes
In line with the implementation of the EWT’s strategic plan, which has suggested a
consolidation of current Working Groups where necessary and an expansion of certain
portfolios, the following Working Group names were changed in 2007 to indicate the
change in focus and activities:
Previous name Amended Name
Airports Company of South Africa Strategic Airports Wildlife Working Group (AWWG)
Partnership (ACSA-EWT)
Eskom Strategic Partnership Wildlife and Energy Interactions Group (WEIG)
Poison Working Group (PWG) Wildlife Conflict Prevention Group (WCPG)
Donated Human Resources Computer System
We are anticipating that the generous sponsorship of an Accsys Human Resources and
Payroll computer system by Accsys, which was received late in 2007, is going to make a
marked difference in the reporting quality and efficiency of the EWT’s Human Resources
department.
Policies and Procedures Manual
The EWT’s fully comprehensive Policies and Procedures Manual is updated on a regular
basis and is easily accessible to all employees.
Performance Management System
Since the introduction of the EWT’s Performance Management System in 2005, we have
been able to identify training and personnel needs with ease and this bi annual system
has prove invaluable to both employees and employer.Fundr aising
and Marketing
Fundraising
Bequests
As always, bequest income in 2007 contributed significantly to the overall income of
the EWT. The worth of this programme has become increasingly evident in recent years
and Mary Ritchie continues to ably drive it.
Gifts received in 2007:
■ Estate Late JG Lotter (R106 599,27)
■ Estate Late Marian Dorothy Davis (R1978,64)
■ Estate Late Prof MF Wakerley (R10 000)
■ Estate Late HR Hitchman (R51 122,93)
■ Estate Late Maurice Gordon Finch (R406 000)
■ Estate Late Ruth Mary Harwin (R423 830,47)
Contact
Samantha Brown – Fundraising Trusts and Foundations
Manager (up to 31 Dec 2007) Trusts and Foundations, local and international, are ever more important to the success
Vannessa Crous – Fundraising of our work. In 2007, the number of applications to Trusts and Foundations, especially
Manager (from 1 Jan 2008) international, increased substantially and a great deal of emphasis is currently laid on
Tel: +27 (0)11 486 1102 building up relationships with selected Trusts and Foundations to solicit their long-term
Fax: +27 (0)11 486 1506 involvement in and support for the work of the EWT. The List of Trusts and Foundations
Email: vannessac@ewt.org.za is incorporated into the List of Funders on page 54.
Membership
Fundraising and Individual members
Marketing Staff Membership of the EWT is a crucial support base for the EWT, not only through the fi-
Samantha Brown (2007) / Vannessa nancial contributions of our members, but often through in-kind support of the work
Crous (from 2008) – Fundraising of the EWT through individual members, who give of their time and expertise. To
Manager facilitate financial contributions, the debit order facility was introduced in 2004 and
Joel Thosago – Membership has continued to grow each year. It is the most cost effective method for collecting
Manager payments and monthly income from this channel stood at over R881 a month for
Patson Khosa – Membership and monthly credit card donations and R8 092 for monthly debit order donations as at the
Financial Administrator 31st of December 2007.
Puleng Thabaneng – Special Events As at the end of 2007 we had 4642 active individual members, an increase of 542
Coordinator members from the end of 2006.
Olga Nyabereka – Corporate
Fundraising Corporate members
Mary Ritchie – Fundraising Liaison Corporate members continue to generously support the work of the EWT with annual
Officer memberships ranging between R2 500 at Explorer level and over R 100 000 at Ground-
Leighanne Imbert – Public Relations breaker level. Some corporate members become EWT patrons with contributions in
and Marketing Coordinator excess of R 500 000. The majority of our corporate friends renewed their support with
Tshidi Molatuli – Fundraising Barloworld renewing their corporate membership of R500 000 (for the last time due to
Administration Assistant the unbundling of the group) in 2007 and Rand Merchant Bank renewing their WorkingAnnual Conservation Report 2007
13
Table 1 Breakdown of Individual Membership
according to membership options for 2005-2007
Type of Membership 2005 2006 2007 Growth ±
Explorers 2 208 2 437 2 700 263
Custodians 396 418 517 99
Groundbreakers 155 140 155 15
EWT Pensioners 911 771 763 -8
Monthly Debit Orders (PAC’s) 0 78 83 5
Monthly Credit Cards 0 10 9 -1
Life Members 113 130 137 7
Complimentary memberships 77 116 278 162
Total 3 860 4 100 4 642 542
Group funding at R650 000. As with individual members, our corporate supporters of-
ten provide much-needed in-kind support over and above financial support they may
already be providing. A list of the EWT’s corporate supporters (including their Founda-
tions and Trusts) is included on the back inside cover of this report. The graphs below
show a breakdown of the EWT’s main sources of funding for Management and Admin-
istration (Graph 1) and Conservation Activities (Graph 2).
Graph 1 Management and Administration Funding
■ Donations (Corporate, Foundations, Fundraising)
■ Membership Subscriptions (Individual and Corporate)
■ Bequest Income
Graph 2 Conservation Activities Funding
■ Foreign Trusts and Foundations
■ South African Trusts and Foundations
■ South African Business and Corporate Donations
■ South African Government Grants
■ Individual DonationsPublic Relations As an NGO, the EWT relies on public support for the work that we do and therefore com- municating our work and especially our successes to the broader public is essential to solicit support for future activities. Engaging the public in the work of the EWT as well as broader environmental topics involved regular talks at the Johannesburg Country Club and EWTeas at the EWT offices as well as electronic communication such as our electronic newsletter EWTalk and extensive information available on the EWT website and print communication through publications and media releases. Conservation Talks The talks remain an important tool for us to interact on a more personal basis with our mem- bers and solicit interest and support from new individuals or corporates. Talks presented by EWT staff members are especially popular and on average, 70–150 people attend each talk. In 2007, ten talks took place at the Country Club Johannesburg, and three at Barloworld. Two talks were presented in Pretoria, one in Cape Town and one in Durban. EWTeas The teas continue to offer EWT supporters, who are unable to attend the evening pres- entations at the Country Club Johannesburg, an opportunity to hear more about the work of the EWT and to engage informally with the staff. We endeavour to host at least one tea per quarter. Attendance ranges between 30–45 guests and the talks held in 2007 were all well received. EWT website communication Our website remains one of our most valuable tools not only as a communication tool but also as an income generator for the EWT. More than 45% of new members recruited in 2007 came through the website. In addition, R 108 173.40 was generated through the EWT payment gateway on the website. In 2006 this figure was R75 330, compared to R49 142 in 2005 and R36 407 in 2004. On average we have around 5000 visitors on our EWT website per month. The most visited pages on our website include the “Species” site, Working Group sites and “Job Opportunities”.
Annual Conservation Report 2007
15
EWTalk – the EWT’s electronic newsletter
A total of 6 EWTalk newsletters and three promotional mailers offering EWT-related
merchandise were sent out during the course of 2007. We are receiving good feedback
from members and regularly receive donations to our wish list. Our subscriber list (in-
cluding EWT members) now tops 12 000 and is constantly growing, underlining the
importance of this medium for dissemination of information about the EWT’s work.
Print Publications
The EWT and Future Publishing embarked on a new partnership in 2007 which saw the
phasing out of the EWT’s members only magazine Endangered Wildlife and the phasing
in of a new, commercially available magazine called Vision. The Vision magazine is no
longer solely owned by the EWT which retains the final 20 pages in the new magazine.
The front section of the magazine contains externally sourced content to allow for a
wider readership and distribution beyond just the EWT’s members. Five editions of Vi-
sion were produced in 2007 which will increase to 6 editions per year from January
2008 onwards. The 15th annual flagship hard copy publication Vision was produced
and launched at the EWT’s annual Conservation Day in November at a breakfast func-
tion with Clem Sunter as the keynote speaker.
Media features
During the course of 2007, the EWT produced 24 national media releases and these,
along with several radio and television features and interviews by EWT staff members
generated over 200 features on the EWT in the mainstream media. This is in addition to
the many articles written by EWT staff members for various magazines, newsletters and
columns as well as presentations given to members of the public at various fora.
Marketing
Emotive mailings
Two mailings (electronic and print) were sent out during the course of 2007, with the
kind support of Lesoba Difference, who continue to assist with design and mailing.
Thanks to Lesoba Difference who continues to assist with the design and mailing. The
first mailing featured the patagial tagging of vultures and generated an excellent re-
sponse (net of R131 000). The final mailing was sent out at the end of November and
featured Oxpeckers and dung beetles. Our sincere thanks to Computer Facilities who
sent out the electronic mailings pro bono.
Cause Related Marketing
This continues to be an area of the marketing strategy that we are actively growing.
It involves partners offering a percentage of sales to be donated to the EWT, showing
their support to the organisation through a product or service. The most successful of
the current relationships remain Monsanto’s support of the WCPG, Orient Express Safarissupport of our crane conservation work in Botswana (through ACWAC), Middelvlei who donates a set amount on each bottle of their Pinotage sold, Momentum who selected the EWT as one of only five beneficiaries of their “Save Thru Spend” programme, C&N Services who donates a percentage of profit from their Project Plus cartridge recycling business and Brown’s Restaurant who adds a “levy” to a number of their fish dishes and donate this to the EWT and our Marine and Coastal Working Group. Special events The EWT continues to grow its stable of special events. These events not only open up new income streams to support our work, but also generate awareness of the EWT brand. In 2007 we once again concentrated on two kinds of events – sporting and wine- related. The EWT remained a beneficiary of the Vodacom Country Challenge and the annual CSIR Race and, for the second year running, we hosted the Great Green Golf Day at Sun City which generated a profit of more than R200 000. For the first time ever the EWT, in partnership with Lycaon Logistics, hosted The De Beers Bike4Beasts Mountain Bike Challenge in the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve and raised around R34 000. We hosted our first wine auction at “Browns” in February 2007 and generated a profit of some R50 000. Middelvlei, our wine-making friends who donate a portion of sales for every bottle of their Pinotage sold, once again generously provided all the wines for our annual wine makers dinners, held at The Grace in Rosebank and The Odd Plate in Centurion. They also presented a wine tasting at our Conservation Talk in Durban. Marketing/Awareness The EWT received excellent support from a number of advertising agencies and pub- lications during the course of this year. Lesoba Difference continues to drive our com- munications such as emotive mailings, membership forms, bequest brochures etc., to individual members and Network BBDO has continued to provide excellent support with revamping our corporate identity, producing adverts in all mediums and helping us to look at the EWT-branded product range.
Conservation
Activities
Strategic Industries
Partnerships
Airport Wildlife Working Group (AWWG)
Overview
Wildlife, in particular birds, poses a serious threat to aviation flight safety. The Interna-
tional Civil Aviation Organisation has recognised this and has implemented a standard
which requires member countries to have wildlife hazard management programmes in
place at their airports.
The EWT Airport Wildlife Working Group (EWT-AWWG) has established itself as a
leader in the field of airport bird strike hazard risk reduction programmes at airports
in southern Africa since its inception in 1998. The programme has managed to signifi- Contact
cantly reduce the frequency of bird strike occurrences at numerous Airports Company Albert Froneman (AWWG Manager)
South Africa (ACSA) airports and in so doing contributed significantly to improving avi- Tel: +27 (0)11 486 1102
ation safety in South Africa. The approach taken at airport level to address the risk has Fax: +27 (0)11 486 1506
also changed significantly to being more environmentally aware and choosing to im- Mobile: +27 (0)82 901 4016
plement environmentally friendly measures to deal with bird hazards on the airfield. Email: albertf@ewt.org.za
Border Collie Project
During 2007 the EWT-AWWG continued to support ACSA airports to effectively manage Working Group Staff
wildlife hazards at their ten airports. At O. R. Tambo International Airport an additional wild- Albert Froneman – WG Manager
life control officer was appointed who has excelled in the programme and conducts regular Claire Patterson-Abrolat
independent bird and wildlife patrols out on the airfield. Another Border Collie dog has – Coordinator
been ordered and will be put to work at this airport during 2008. In light of the arrival of the
new dog the kennel facilities at O. R. Tambo International were given a facelift.
Wildlife Management System
In order to facilitate easier data capture related to bird and wildlife presence and abun-
dance on the airports and to track compliance in terms of regularity of patrols and time
spent out on the airfield, further developments on the Wildlife Management System,
incorporating the use of a GPS / PDA unit, have been made. Airport staff – Wildlife Con-
trol Officers or Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighters – now use this system to record sight-
ings and plot a track log of their activities on the airfield. The system will not only make
it easier for staff to report on sightings while out in the field but it will also be invaluable
in determining if patrols are done timeously and whether control measures being im-
plemented are in fact effective.Alternate Wildlife Management Methods
At Durban International Airport a new innovative bird scaring device is now being used.
In addition to the Border Collies, the wildlife control staff are now also using a laser
Key Highlights torch to scare birds away. The device works most effectively in low light conditions as it
relies on the stick effect created by the laser beam – when birds see this ‘stick / beam of
A highly sophisticated bird
light’ moving toward them they feel threatened and take flight.
detection radar was used to track
At Port Elizabeth airport further progress has been made with changing the vegeta-
the movement of the swallow flocks
tion types adjacent to the runways – a selective herbicide treatment known as ‘species
and in so doing prove that a co-
switch’ has been applied on grassed areas next to the taxiways. The treatment favours
existence model is possible between
the establishment of kweek grass which does not grow very tall and reduces the need
the swallows using the Mt Moreland
to have it cut. Not only does this reduce the number of birds on the airfield that would
reedbed and the new La M
have been attracted by the freshly cut grass areas, but it will also save the airport money
currently being constructe
in the long term as the frequency of grass cutting would be reduced significantly!
Handheld GPS / PDA un In Bloemfontein, two wildlife control officers appointed at the airport have been
now being used by ACSA a able to operate more independently from Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting and are able
record bird presence and a to spend much more time out on the airfield. In East London, Kimberly and George, the
information. number of bird strikes decreased slightly in 2007 as regular bird and wildlife patrols are
An additional wildlife c being conducted.
officer was appointed at O
International Airport. She h La Mercy Airport
closely with the existing wi The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the new La Mercy airport in KwaZulu-
officer and will soon be rec Natal received significant attention during 2007. Concern was noted regarding a large roost
own Border Collie with wh site for Barn Swallows some 2,5km away from the airport site, directly underneath the ap-
patrol the airfield and scar proach path of aircraft. A bird specialist study was conducted using a specialised bird detec-
tion radar system contracted in from the USA to monitor and analyse the behaviour of the
swallow flocks. The studies concluded that the swallows are unlikely to pose a significant
threat to the safe operation of aircraft and it is also unlikely that the swallows will be affected
by the development itself. A detailed plan will be put in place to ensure that the health of
the wetland and its catchment area are also not compromised by the development. A bird
detection radar will be installed at the new airport to continuously monitor the airspace
above the reedbed and around the airport. Information gathered from such a radar system
will then be integrated into the operational plan of the airport and relayed to aircraft to
warn them of any potential high risk situations if and when they do occur.Annual Conservation Report 2007
19
Wildlife and Energy
Interactions Group (WEIG)
Overview of 2007
The Eskom- EWT Strategic Partnership (EWT-ESP) began in 1996 in response to the prob-
lem of bird mortalities on power lines. The goal of the partnership is to minimise the
negative interactions between wildlife and electrical networks in South Africa. This is
achieved through the integration of a broad diversity of skills ranging from ornithologi-
cal to engineering. The Partnership has developed a unique level of trust and respect
between the EWT and Eskom, and is in many respects a world leader in this field. 2007
saw significant progress on existing projects as well as several exciting new initiatives:
Advocacy and networking
The Partnership was invited to visit the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in Wiscon-
sin, USA for 10 days in September 2007. Presentations were delivered at several meet-
ings, on cranes and power lines, and proposed ways of addressing threats. The visit
culminated in a meeting held at ICF to gather interested stakeholders to discuss bird
– power line interactions. Participants included crane conservationists, trumpeter swan
conservationists, and representatives from several electrical utilities. This meeting was
the first step towards closer collaboration between conservationists and the electrical
industry in Wisconsin.
Transmission Division
During 2007, the halfway mark was reached with field assessments of the top 30 high
collision risk transmission lines across South Africa. This project started in 2003, after
completion of a desktop analysis of the risk that transmission lines pose to large terres-
trial birds. The next step was to visit each of the 30 lines and identify specific high risk
sections, so that these could be marked with anti-collision marking devices. The use of
Geographic Information Systems was also introduced in 2007 as a tool for managing
and presenting the results of this programme, and facilitated better understanding of
the programme within Eskom. Towards the end of 2007, a co-ordinator position was
created within the partnership for the Transmission Division, and this dedication of re-
sources will ensure efficient management and continuity for this division in the future.
Distribution Division
A co-ordinator position was also created within the Partnership for the Distribution Divi-
sion, dramatically improving the efficiency with which the work is managed. The EWT will
in future also have representation at Eskom Distribution Environmental Advisory Com-
mittee meetings, which will enable it to interact with each of the six Distribution regions
to discuss region specific incidents, issues and recommendations. Late 2007 also saw the
resurrection of the ENVIROTECH forum, a forum attended by both technical and environ-mental staff from Eskom and the EWT, and presents an ideal opportunity to discuss technical
problems and solutions for wildlife mitigation. The forum meets quarterly.
Wildlife–Power Line Interaction Research
The Partnership completed a number of research projects on wildlife power line interac-
tions issues during 2007. A Research Co-ordinator position was also created and in Septem-
ber Dr Andrew Jenkins was employed in this position and a research proposal for work to
be done in 2008 was drawn up in conjunction with Eskom Resources & Strategy.
Key Highlights Input into New Infrastructure
The Partnership conducted One of the Partnership’s key activities is to conduct specialist avifaunal impact studies as part
approximately 46 avifaunal specialist of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for new electrical infrastructure. A
studies for new electrical infrastructure standard recommendation of these studies is that once the exact position of the power line
during 2007. or substation is determined, and the position of each pylon or tower is surveyed and pegged,
that an “avifaunal walk through” is conducted for the line. This involves visiting almost every
A network of 15–20 vol
assist the Partnership in in tower position and assessing which sections of the line require some form of mitigation to
wildlife mortalities across prevent impacts on birds, and is usually done just before construction begins. During 2007,
several lines where EIAs were previously undertaken (dating back as far as 1999) became due
The Eskom Distribution for a “walk through” and these were completed. This was particularly rewarding work as it
accepted wildlife interacti represents the last stage in the EWT’s input into the design of a line and it seems we have
performance indicator. made a real difference. The Partnership also participated in an EIA for Eskom’s first commer-
The Distribution Divisio cial wind energy facility on the west coast near Vredendal.
performed well with the fo
mortality incidents, havin New Infrastructure
90% of localities marked f Less than 5% of sub Saharan Africans have access to reliable electricity. It’s hardly surprising
measures, by December 2 then that increasing access to electricity is recognised as a top priority for the continent. In
order to achieve this, numerous new power line networks are being planned and built. Whilst
this is good news for people and economies, overhead power lines are not always good news
for the environment. The Partnership is well positioned to extend what it has learnt in SA in
the past 11 years to its neighbours, and further north into the African continent. The relative
lack of electrical infrastructure north of our borders presents an opportunity for us to avoid
the mistakes made in the early days in SA, and build wildlife friendly electrical infrastructure
from the start. To achieve this, we need to act now through building “within country” capacity
in the field of wildlife power line interaction, and influencing planning processes. The Part-
nership began preparatory work for this during 2007, in partnership with the EWT’s African
Cranes, Wetlands & Communities programme.Indicator Species and
Critical Ecosystems
Birds of Prey Working Group (BoPWG)
Overview Contact
The EWT-BoPWG made good progress in implementing and promoting effective André Botha (BoPWG Manager)
conservation action focused on raptors and other large birds in southern African. We Tel: +27 (0)11 486 1102
have been able to update and/or expand the range of awareness materials used by Fax: +27 (0)11 486 1506
the group to include the Sasol Vulture Restaurant Manual, Vulture Tagging posters and Mobile: +27 (0)82 962 5725
at least 8 new titles have been added to our popular raptor information leaflets. Four Email: andreb@ewt.org.za
media releases generated substantial interest from both the electronic and print media
and the group featured in more than 60 articles in the print media with more than 20
radio and television interviews focused on raptor conservation issues being conducted Working Group staff
during 2007. André Botha – WG Manager
The extent of support from partner-organisations and associates was evident with Erika Belz – WG Administration
more than 70 delegates attending our annual conference that was held at Victoria- Coordinator
West in the Northern Cape during March. The activities of the Ground Hornbill Working Abrie Maritz – Coordinator: Zurich
Group were also incorporated into the EWT-BoPWG and towards the end of the year, Kalahari Raptor Project
we launched a major new project, the Lowveld/KNP Large Bird Project, which is based Adri Barkhuysen – Coordinator:
in Skukuza and has components within KNP and the Lowveld region. Algoa Raptor Project
Ronelle Visagie – Coordinator:
Sasol Vulture Monitoring Project Platberg Karoo Project
Operating at 14 sites across the region, the project aims to conserve all vulture spe- All other Projects are managed by
cies in the region. Most of the work is done by volunteers and associates based in the volunteers and associates
areas of concern, and involves monitoring of breeding sites, implementation of effec-
tive mitigation measures in problem areas and promotion of supplementary feeding
where appropriate. During 2007, wing-tagging as a colour-marking method for these
birds was very successful and to-date more than 1100 vultures have been tagged and
over 2500 records of birds have been sighted after marking. These data are invaluable
in determining movement patters, foraging ranges, mortality factors and key areas for
the conservation of vultures in the region.
Bearded Vulture Task Force
Established under the leadership of Sonja Krüger in 2006, the group has gone from
strength to strength during 2007, focusing on implementing the objectives determined
during the PHVA-process. An example of this is the placement of 6 refrigeration units at
strategic points in the species’ range to provide a reliable source of carcasses for place-22 Endangered Wildlife Trust
ment at supplementary feeding sites. In addition, 3 immature Bearded Vultures were
fitted with satellite tracking devices in September 2007 and valuable data have been
obtained on the movements of these birds.
Cape Vulture Task Force
Most of the important Cape Vulture colonies are being monitored by associates and volun-
teers to determine breeding success and address conservation needs where necessary. No
less than 34 grounded Cape Vultures were handed in to our Blouberg colony champion,
Key Highlights Johan van Wyk, by members of surrounding communities of which 90% were released after
appropriate treatment. In 2008 we plan to step up the activities of the Task Force.
At the end of 2007, the Lowveld/KNP
Large Bird Project was launched in the
Kruger National Park Lowveld/KNP Large Bird Project
Launched late in 2007, the project focuses on the implementation of monitoring and
The EWT-BoPWG Annual conservation actions focused on the large bird species occurring throughout the
Conference, held in March 2007, Kruger National Park and adjoining areas. This represents the first substantial project
was attended by over 70 delegates focused on large birds for more than 15 years and has huge potential for expansion to
committed to the conservation of large include a range of large bird species occurring in the region, both from a research and
birds
conservation perspective. This project also includes the Pel’s Fishing Owl population
The EWT-BoPWG won the EWT survey, which was completed for the first time in June 2007.
Working Group of the Year Award
for 2007 Zurich Kalahari Raptor Project
Abrie Maritz has coordinated this project for more than 15 years and it continues to receive
acknowledgement as one of the most successful community-focused conservation projects
in the region. Focusing on all raptors and vultures, the project has enabled the regenera-
tion of breeding populations of several threatened raptor species on commercial farmland
through the creation of awareness and promotion of sustainable conservation measures in
the project area. Abrie was able to fit wing-tags to no less than 167 vulture chicks within his
project area. This is by far the most vultures processed in an individual project.
Algoa Raptor Project
This project considerably expanded its focus in 2007 from mostly research and moni-
toring of certain raptor populations to include a substantial awareness and education
component. The project coordinator, Adri Barkhuysen, has also successfully established
the Eastern Cape Raptor Conservation Forum that coordinates and facilitates effective
conservation action focused on the raptors in the Eastern Cape.
Platberg Karoo Raptor Project
This project is based in the eastern Karoo in the Northern Cape and coordinated by
Ronelle Visagie, co-winner of the EWT-BoPWG’s Raptor Conservationist of the YearAnnual Conservation Report 2007
23
Award in 2007. The project focuses on working with landowners to prevent unnatural
mortalities of raptors due to factors such as collisions and electrocutions with power
infrastructure and direct persecution by livestock owners. It has made great strides in
changing the attitudes of farmers through effective interaction and mitigation meas-
ures implemented that benefit both the raptors and landowners.
Owl Projects
Our two owl projects, sponsored by Nashua Central and Bakwena respectively, were
consolidated during 2007. The Bakwena Project will focus more on education and
awareness in communities north of Pretoria and will be run by an EWT-CLG student.
The focus of the Nashua owl project will expand to include work on the Mpumalanga
Highveld and is currently establishing links with several mining concessions to monitor
impacts of mining activities on owl habitats in the region.
Migratory Kestrel Project
In January 2007, a very successful national survey was conducted and more than 120 000
migratory kestrels were counted at roosts across the country. The focus of the project was
also broadened to include working with landowners on whose properties these birds for-
age and roost and we will be providing information and notice boards at key roosts in the
coming year. There has also been a greater degree of interaction with conservationists
working on these species in their breeding ranges in Europe and Asia.
Urban Raptor Project
Previously known as Raptors Research, this initiative has formally joined the EWT-BoP-
WG as a Project in 2007 and focuses on the conservation of raptor populations within
the urban areas of Gauteng. A highlight during 2007 was the location of a second active
breeding pair of Verraux’s Eagles in the greater Johannesburg area that managed to
successfully raise a chick to fledging. The project is also involved in commenting and
participating in several EIA processes in key raptor areas in the province.
Breede River Fish Eagle Project
Substantial funding for this initiative has been secured from Distell for the next 3 years.
Field work such as identification and monitoring of nesting sites, and the sampling
and tagging of nestlings was conducted by Adam Welz during October and November
2007 and plans are under way to expand the work to also look at potential chemical
contamination of breeding birds along the Olifants River system.
Smaller Projects managed by the EWT-BoPWG
■ Free State Raptor Project – Alma Fuller
■ Western Cape Raptor Project – Koos de Goede
■ Hoogland Raptor Project – Pieter Koornhof
■ Bushveld Raptor Project – Arnaud le Roux24 Endangered Wildlife Trust
Blue Swallow Working Group (BSWG)
Overview
The EWT-Blue Swallow Working Group’s (EWT-BSWG) aim is ‘to conserve and increase the
Blue Swallow population by promoting the sustainable utilisation of its montane grassland and
wetland habitats, for the benefit of all, throughout its ten-country sub-Saharan African distribu-
tion range.’
The Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea is a highly specialised swallow inhabiting short
gently undulating, mist-belt grasslands along the eastern South African escarpment and
north-western Swaziland as part of its very fragmented breeding range within Africa. The
South African Blue Swallow population of 84 known pairs, only visiting during the breeding
season from September to April, is classified as Critically Endangered.
One of the main threats to Blue Swallows is loss of their grassland habitat, mainly
to development initiatives. During 2007, the EWT-BSWG advocated against prospecting
and mining applications within five Blue Swallow grassland areas along the Mpumalanga
Escarpment. This advocacy has to date been successful with no prospecting or mining
having been authorized on any of the five sites. The EWT-BSWG further produced and dis-
tributed its bi-annual e-newsletter ‘iNkonjane’, aimed at informing and motivating volun-
teers, land-owners, interested individuals and other stakeholders by giving recognition
to their work, communicating the activities and successes of the EWT-BSWG and provid-
ing exposure to the funders and supporters of the EWT-BSWG. There was an increase in
the number of subscribers to this newsletter in 2007 and good feedback was received on
the content.
Blue Swallow Custodian Programme
A large part of our work involves liaison and networking with landowners that have Blue
Contact Swallows on their property. The primary aim of the Blue Swallow Custodian Programme is
Steven W. Evans (BSWG Manager) therefore to recognise and show appreciation to those landowners / managers who have
Tel: +27 (0) 11 486 1102 actively participated in and contributed to the conservation of Blue Swallows and their
Fax: +27 (0) 86 609 3978 grassland habitat. In 2007, 4 properties where evaluated against the Blue Swallow Cus-
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 850 6480 todian criteria as possible Blue Swallow Custodians. Although these properties and land-
Email: stevene@ewt.org.za owners did not meet the criteria at this time they where provided with the criteria and will
be visited at least once annually to re-evaluate them against the criteria. No Blue Swallow
Custodianships were thus awarded in 2007.
Working Group Staff There are currently 16 Blue Swallow Custodians in South Africa, covering an area of ap-
Steven W. Evans – WG Manager proximately 5 500 ha of suitable Blue Swallow grassland habitat and conserving approxi-
Andre Rossouw – Field Worker in mately 25 Blue Swallows or 15 % of the total Blue Swallow population. The EWT-BSWG staff
KwaZulu-Natal and volunteers are, in conjunction with the relevant provincial conservation authorities, in
Enos Zulu – Field Worker in the process of compiling management plans for one Blue Swallow Custodian farm contain-
Mpumalanga ing 1 pair of Blue Swallows and 4 Oribi.You can also read
