Welcome to the EWT’s 2010 Conservation Report.
This report details the performance and endeavours of the dedicated staff of the EWT during the course of the past year. It also highlights the significant contributions made by those who work closely with the Trust in achieving heightened awareness and effectiveness of the preservation of our ecological heritage.
The past year proved to be a most challenging year for fundraising, with economic difficulties still being experienced in the markets as well as a huge focus on corporate participation in the Soccer World Cup. It is, therefore, with much admiration for the fundraising efforts and thanks to many long-standing and loyal donors that I can report that the EWT has a sound financial base to continue the all-important hands-on conservation work it is respected for. The fundraising efforts of the Trust will continue to intensify with new hires having been made during the year to increase our capabilities in this regard. Much excitement, awareness, and renewed membership drives can be expected from this dynamic team; I am sure many of you will be afforded the opportunity to meet with them as they reach out in their
quest for support.
The Trust has the utmost gratitude and respect for its donors without whose tremendous generosity we would not have been able to fulfil this year’s significant contribution to environmental protection. On behalf of the Trustees, the Board of Management and the staff, a sincere thanks you to you all.
The year saw the Trust playing a vital role in numerous legal actions in partnership with many other organisations in the conservation and community protection fields to ensure that commercial and private/public collaborations adhere to the boundaries of our country’s ecological legislative frameworks. This is a role which
I believe will become more demanding in the future and one for which the Trust needs to resource for the future.
I have also noted with great appreciation the strides which the environmental and conservational sectors are taking to improve the collaborative interaction both on the policy as well as the all-important operational implementation activities amongst the various role players. The Board has noted the influential role that the CEO and her management staff have played in forging these partnerships. The Trust has sound relationships with official conservational bodies internationally and with the national governmental organisations, as well as the broad NGO sector. A continued focus will remain on ensuring these relations grow from strength to strength.
The Trust must continue to work as an aggregator towards greater coordination and collaboration in its sector to continue to improve the effectiveness of delivery impact on the ground - where it counts.
Our dedicated scientific and field staff has also excelled during the year achieving notable recognition from the scientific community on the standard and relevance of their work. We respect these achievements and acknowledge their dedication to the cause in sometimes harsh and difficult working environments.
I’m once again pleased to be able to report that the Trust has achieved 100% compliance with all of its corporate governance requirements. This is thanks to the focus which the Board of Management has on this all-important fiduciary responsibility and the tremendous diligence in the execution of the Trust’s functions and responsibilities by the administrative management functions of the Trust.
On behalf of the Board I would like to thank our CEO, Yolan Friedmann, who continues to lead by exemplary example which ensures a work ethic of the highest standard throughout the organisation. The Trust has had another successful year on all fronts, and the staff richly deserves the accolades which they have received for this success. I am continually amazed at the dedication and skill of our staff and I thank you all for a year of great effort and achievement.
The Trust has been fortunate to be able to strengthen the ranks of the Board and Management with additional appointments of seasoned expertise which will stand us in good stead for the strong growth which is expected for our organisation. I take this opportunity of thanking my colleagues on the Board for their
support and wise counsel.
There have been numerous atrocities committed against our ecological heritage in the past year. I have been shocked and saddened to see the malice and ferocity with which certain people acted, fuelled by commercial greed as they committed numerous atrocious acts which damaged our country’s fauna and flora this past year. The role of the Endangered Wildlife Trust becomes more demanding each year as the struggle to protect our ecological heritage grows in significance. Please join us in our efforts to ensure sustainability for all.
We need to intensify this struggle!
Dirk Ackerman
Chairman
Download Annual Conservation Report 2010 (41.2 MB)