WELCOME TO
THE endangered wildlife trust
We are committed to conserving threatened species and ecosystems in Africa to the benefit of all
Where we work
THE EWT PRIORITY STRATEGIC CONSERVATION LANDSCAPES (SCL)
The EWT’s Strategic Conservation Landscapes have been identified through extensive datasets that cover threatened species, at risk ecosystems, and existing landscape-level features. These include layers such as the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), the Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSA), the National Protected Area Expansion Strategy and the provincial Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) in South Africa, as well as other prioritised layers. These include protected areas, targeted biodiversity distribution data and Transfrontier Conservation Areas across the region.
Through this data rich process, we have identified nine priority landscapes across East and southern Africa that will benefit from targeted conservation action, to become a haven for conservation, climate change adaptation and ecological resilience in a rapidly changing world.
What we do
Mainstreaming Conservation for People and Planet
At the Endangered Wildlife Trust, we work to embed conservation principles across sectors, from agriculture and mining to urban planning and education. By addressing the root causes of biodiversity loss, we promote nature-based solutions that protect ecosystems and improve human wellbeing.
Why it matters:
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Biodiversity thrives when conservation is built into everyday decision-making.
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Healthy ecosystems provide essential services like clean water, food security, and climate regulation.
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Collaboration across sectors builds resilience and long-term sustainability.
By integrating environmental responsibility into society’s core systems, we create a future where both nature and people can flourish.
Why we do it
Our conservation approaches include but are not limited to:
We recognise the importance of conservation impact at scale. We also recognise that to achieve this requires collaboration, not only between conservation entities, but also through working closely with government agencies and Indigenous People & Local Communities (IPLCs).
We will focus our attention on these nine carefully selected, large Strategic Conservation Landscapes (SCLs) in East and southern Africa through an integrated strategic conservation approach that will engage essential partners to create and secure safe spaces for threatened species, facilitate climate change adaptation, expand protected area corridors, reduce human-wildlife conflict and improve the well-being and ecological resilience of IPLCs.
Protect biodiversity
Lead collaborative efforts to safeguard species and rebuild life-sustaining ecosystems, working with, for example, governments, landowners, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).
Build a sustainable future
Embed biodiversity into corporate strategies and operations to deliver measurable positive outcomes for nature and create resilient, future-fit businesses.
Secure vital ecosystem services
Healthy ecosystems provide essential services like clean air, water, and food security.
Improve climate resilience
Build climate adaptation and resilience into conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and human well-being.
empower communities
Enable IPLCs to thrive through nature-based solutions that connect conservation with human well-being, equity, and sustainable livelihoods.
Enhance water security
Prioritise the safeguarding of critical freshwater systems and catchments across Africa’s threatened landscapes.
How we do it
Our conservation approaches
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Formally secure core protected areas within large functional living landscapes for the benefit of biodiversity and ecosystem services. (Landscapes 1, 2, 3, 4)
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Drive the implementation of Nature-based Solutions, especially focused on habitat restoration towards climate adaptation and resilience, across critical ecosystems within the EWTs priority landscapes. (Landscapes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9)
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Drive the reduction and ultimate eradication of all critical threats facing species across critical landscapes, such as vultures and carnivores, in order to establish safe spaces for wildlife to thrive. (Landscapes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- Enable and implement range expansion activities focused on both meta-population management and trophic rewilding through strategic relocations, including, but not limited to, large carnivores. (Landscapes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- Address targeted persecution, illegal trade and associated human-wildlife conflict impacts within priority landscapes, including, but not limited to, snare reduction, improving justice processes and illegal poisoning intervention. (All landscapes)
- Implement targeted sampling expeditions (bioblitz’s) to assess the
biodiversity richness of under-sampled and under-studied areas across East and Southern Africa, to inform priority conservation actions, and to concurrently share expertise with local conservation biologists. (Landscapes 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- Work closely with all Indigenous People and Local Community (IPLC) groups to drive and establish sustainable living lands that support human resilience and well-being linked to Nature-based Economy opportunities in priority areas. (All landscapes)
- Facilitate and drive strategic skills transfer to enable conservation impact across all strategic regions. (All landscapes)
- Establish long-term strategic conservation partnerships with common goals to collaboratively drive ambitious conservation strategies across the Strategic Conservation Landscapes. (All landscapes)
- Develop local conservation leadership within IPLC groups and recognise species/landscape champions through support, training and the creation of career pathways. (All landscapes)
- Facilitate strategic partnerships between relevant sectors operating within and across the EWTs SCLs in Africa to enhance and support landscape functioning and the interface between socio-ecological well-being and biodiversity conservation. This includes supporting corporate accountability, eco-tourism, the wildlife economy, policy and legislation, nature-based solutions and climate mitigation and adaptation measures. (All landscapes)
- Drive improved policy and practice linked to quantified biodiversity footprints of local and global businesses across Africa, leading to targeted conservation action across the EWTs priority landscapes and driven by the private sector. (All landscapes)
- Scale-up the development and implementation of innovative tools to enable conservation impact at scale, including, but not limited to, drone technologies, environmental DNA, legal and governance solutions and new interventions linked to renewable energy and linear infrastructure impacts. (All landscapes)
- Implement targeted conservation actions to reduce the impact of illegal wildlife trade on threatened species. (All landscapes)
- Implement targeted long-term monitoring systems to guide and inform conservation action, Including innovative technological solutions to improve functional efficiency. (All landscapes)
- Drive the establishment of sustainable financing mechanisms that enable the implementation of large-scale conservation impact over extended timescales. (All landscapes)
Our Vision
A healthy and equitable Africa that values and sustains the diversity of all life.
Our Mission
The Endangered Wildlife Trust is dedicated to conserving threatened species and ecosystems in Africa to the benefit of all.
our values
EVERYTHING THE EWT DOES IS UNDERPINNED BY five CORE VALUES
To help us keep these core values top of mind, we use the acronym “RIVER”
respect
We believe in justice
and equity.
We are compassionate.
We respect all life and
each other.
We value indigenous knowledge systems.
impact
We are proactive,
tenacious, and we lead by example.
We protect wildlife.
We secure ecosystems for human well-being.
value all life
We value nature as the
foundation of human well-being.
We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for, and integration of, women, the youth, people living with disabilities, and all races, religions and cultures into the EWT, and our work
ethical
We are ethical
and accountable
and transparent.
relationships
We recognise the value
of partnerships.
We develop conservationists and strengthen indigenous resource management.
We align ourselves with Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) values.