The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), situated in Modderfontein, was started 40 years ago.
It is the product of the passion and determination of founders Clive Walker, Neville Anderson and James Clarke to protect endangered species from extinction. These environmental mavericks came together, initially to bring an end to the decline of the cheetah in the country.
The EWT celebrated its 40th year of conservation in action at a gala dinner held at the Hyatt Regency in Rosebank on October 31. Friends and supporters of the EWT attended the party.
The keynote speaker was the executive director of corporate affairs and transformation at SAB Limited, Dr Vincent Maphai. He spoke about the plight of the environment, the need to foster and encourage an active civil society movement and the need to cultivate a sense of ownership of the country’s rich biodiversity among the poorest of the country.
He explained that when people believe they have a stake in something, when they proudly own something, they take care of that precious thing because it is theirs. “We cannot expect to see an end to wildlife crime when the poorest amongst us do not see our biodiversity as being theirs. It is only by empowering all South Africans that we will begin to turn the tide on extinction,” he said.
The four CEOs throughout the lifespan of the EWT, Clive Walker, Dr John Ledger, Dr Nicholas King and Yolan Friedmann, were all present at the event and participated in a panel discussion that covered the history of the EWT and highlighted stories, special moments and inspirational events.
Clive Walker explained that the work done by the EWT is not easy. “There are times when the tasks that face us seem monumental and the goals unachievable, but it remains our moral duty to continue fighting with everything we have for the preservation of the species and habitats that form our country and continent’s rich biodiversity,” he said.
The African continent is one of the few places left in the world where wild animals can still find sanctuary. Big mammals, toothy felines and canine predators continue to roam Africa’s vistas but this wild oasis is under relentless pressure from the ever-expanding reach of humanity. The EWT continues to lead the drive to save the last wild places of Africa.
The 20th edition of the EWT’s Vision annual was launched at the gala dinner. The Vision was launched in 1994 and the inspiration for this annual was, according to the EWT’s then-director, Dr John Ledger, the vital need for an annual publication that would serve as an update on the state of the environment in Southern Africa
The 20th edition commemorates the 40th anniversary of the EWT and provides a synopsis of the gains and losses for conservation over the past 40 years throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The book describes the journey of the EWT from its early stages to an established conservation icon, with the development of conservation technologies, environmental education, various key business sectors with an environmental impact, and individual countries as a whole, throughout the SADC region. The publication provides a unique and detailed reflection of where the EWT has come from as a region. It also suggests the promise of a hopeful future that has come to define Vision.
CEO of the EWT, Ms Yolan Friedmann, said that for 40 years the EWT has provided solutions to a diverse range of conservation challenges and has been instrumental in ensuring the continued survival of many threatened species in the sub-Saharan region.
“It has been my honour to serve this organisation, to fly the conservation flag, to work alongside remarkable people whose energy and passion are unrivalled and to be part of something which is so much bigger and more important than us all. The EWT is its staff, trustees, members, partners, donors, colleagues, associates and most important of all, the extraordinary wildlife and this special planet for which we have all come together. Happy birthday EWT,” she said.
