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Integrating Conservation and Health

Integrating Conservation and Health Action pays dividends for women in Rwanda

Integrating Conservation and Health

An initiative being driven by the Margaret Pike Trust in the Rukiga district of Rwanda, in partnership with the Rugarama Hospital, the International Crane Foundation/Endangered Wildlife Trust and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, is having significant and unexpected benefits for women facing gender-based violence.

This is according to a data analysis by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The Trust has been working in the Rukiga district with its partners since 2021 to deliver and evaluate an integrated conservation, health and livelihood project benefitting 50,000 people.

Data shows that due to our innovative project design:

Women are more protected from gender-based violence, which is prevalent locally with one in three women in Rukiga experiencing it;

Women were 25% more likely to choose a long-acting and reversible contraceptive method, which is more effective at preventing an unintended pregnancy; and

More women have attended health services and benefitted from improved sexual and reproductive health services, and gender-based violence screening and follow-up services, which have not previously been available.

Zeneb Musiimire, East African Community Specialist at the International Crane Foundation/Endangered Wildlife Trust, reflects on the findings: “Being from Rukiga, I have seen the devastating impacts that gender-based violence has in our communities. I am reminded of an old saying in Rukiga, which questions whether a man really loves his wife, if he does not beat her. These attitudes are hard to change, but thanks to our partnership with the Margaret Pyke Trust and our integrated project design, we have been able to help women like never before.” 

Kathryn Lloyd, Senior Manager: Programmes at the Trust says: “Research has shown just how prevalent gender-based violence is in Rukiga’s wetland communities and how it intersects with poor family planning services, poor crop yields, poverty, and food insecurity. We knew that our integrated project design would likely have greater outcomes for health, conservation and livelihoods, but we hadn’t anticipated the direct benefit we would have for women facing such horrific violence. We are proud to stand with our partners against gender-based violence.”

Kerryn Morrison, ICF/EWT Senior Manager: Africa, says of the project and its findings: “Integrating the communities, that share the landscapes that we are working in, into our conservation solutions provides real opportunities for our impact to be scaled and diversified beyond what we intended.  This is a real example of how 1+1=4, and how true impact and scale up happens when an integrated approach is taken”.

Integrating Conservation and Health

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** More information about the impacts in Rukiga can be read in the Margaret Pike Trust’s latest project brief.

Wattled Crane downlisted regionally

Wattled Crane downlisted regionally from Critically Endangered to Endangered

Wattled Crane downlisted regionally

Concerted and targeted conservation efforts by the Endangered Wildlife Trust/International Crane Foundation partnership, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZNW), other NGOs and farmers and landowners across the Drakensberg, have delivered another success—the downlisting of the Wattled Crane from Critically Endangered to Endangered.

The regional downlisting is a remarkable conservation success and will be published in the latest edition of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species at the end of May 2025. Wattled Cranes (Bugeranus carunculatus) were listed as regionally Critically Endangered in 2015 with only 267 individuals recorded in the KwaZulu-Natal aerial survey of that year. This aerial survey has been conducted for 32 years in partnership with Eskom and EKZNW as KwaZulu-Natal is the stronghold for the species in South Africa.

A regional downlisting means that in South Africa, the Wattled Crane is no longer declining, but the population remains small and vulnerable to threats with an estimate population of only 304 being counted in 2024. Despite this positive trend in KwaZulu-Natal, the global population (including, but not limited to South Africa) remains on the decline and urgent conservation attention is required to safeguard populations outside of KwaZulu-Natal.

The latest downlisting follows the reclassification of Cape Vulture from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2021, also due to the success of targeted conservation efforts by a large number of organisations, including the Endangered Wildlife Trust and partners.

The EWT began research and conservation action to Africa’s crane species in 1994. Efforts to-date have included monitoring, research to better understand their movement and ecological needs, power line investigations and mitigation in partnership with Eskom, supporting farmers and landowners to protect their breeding sites, conservation of key areas through the promotion of sustainable management practices, extensive education with landowners and rural communities, as well as understanding the crane trade and inclusion of key crane areas into the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme.

More recently, with improved technologies such as transmitters that can be placed on the Wattled Cranes, we are deepening our understanding of the nonbreeding species that do not hold territories, to understand their movement patterns and how they use the landscape differently to breeding birds. In addition, we are using drone mapping to enhancing our grasp of the hydrogeomorphology characterisations of wetlands used by Wattled Cranes. This information will be vital to the rehabilitation of wetlands to expand the habitat utilised by these unique birds, which will enable the species to expand outside its current range.

Our work in Mpumalanga will also reveal critical information on the potential connectivity between populations in the different provinces. Work will continue with farmers to maintain the conservation of the species in its core range and thus protect the landscape through Biodiversity Stewardship Schemes. This will be supported by long-term funding through carbon trading in the grasslands where they live.

The EWT would like to thank its funders and donors, especially the Dohmen Family Fund, Rand Merchant Bank and Eskom that have been significant contributors over the last 30 years.

“The downlisting reflects the effort that has been placed on the species over the last 30 years, and highlights the importance of collaborating when protecting a species, and their grasslands and wetlands habitats that we all depend on, said Dr Damian Walters, the South African Regional Manager for the African Crane Conservation Programme.

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Conserving the African Penguin

Conserving the African Penguin is critical for South Africa’s economy and reputation: Report

By Lauren Waller (Regional Planning Coordinator, ewt) and Eleanor Momberg (Communications manager, ewt)

The loss of the African Penguin would be a very large reputational risk to South Africa, the moral custodian of the species.

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) only occurs in Namibia and South Africa.

“Just as South Africa’s foreign policies and economic decisions contribute to its reputation, its position on environmental stewardship and the measures it implements to protect global assets, for which it is perceived as a guardian, will shape its international brand,” state the authors of the Assessment of the Value of African Penguins published by the Endangered Wildlife Trust towards the end of 2024.

The study was commissioned by the EWT in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

The African penguin is the only penguin species that breeds on the African continent and is endemic to the southern African coast. The species has declined from an estimated 0.5-1 million breeding pairs in the early 1900s to the approximately 42 500 counted in 1991, and 8324 in 2023. The remaining birds are mostly found in seven colonies in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.

Several factors have contributed to their population decline. Initially, a key reason was habitat destruction through Guano harvesting and egg collection. However, over the last few decades, a shortage of small pelagic fish species, the penguins’ main food source, seems to have been the main contributing factor. Increased vessel traffic and the resulting noise pollution has also contributed to the decline.

This study aimed to provide an assessment of the value of the African penguin in South Africa to inform decision-makers at all levels of government, conservation organisations and other stakeholders involved in decision making around African penguins.

While determining whether the economic value of penguin conservation is useful to inform policy decisions, it was acknowledged that it represents only one way to think about conservation. Besides economic arguments for threatened species conservation, arguments for species protection can also be made for moral reasons, or be linked to South Africa’s international commitments under the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity to halt all species extinctions.

Based on the estimation of tourism value, existence value, property benefits, educational and media-related benefits, the total value of the penguin colonies of South Africa was estimated to be between R1,946 million and R4,545 million in 2023.

Tourism value

Tourists visiting penguin colonies generate revenues for the park authorities and for a range of tourism-related business, all of which generates knock-on effects in the economy.

Tourists visiting the Boulders penguin colony in Cape Town generated around R95 million in entrance fees for SANParks in November 2023. Based on visitor surveys, the total expenditure in South Africa related to the Boulders penguin colony was estimated to be in the range of R535.6 – 2273 million in 2023 based on median and average visitor expenditure, respectively. Based on spatial data, and fairly conservative assumptions, it was estimated that Boulders accounted for approximately R505 million of tourism expenditure, and that the remaining penguin colonies in South Africa generated some R108.3 million in tourism expenditure.

The total tourism value of all penguin colonies was thus estimated to be in the range of R613 – 2702 million in 2023.

Existence value

The report found during its survey of Capetonians that people benefit from knowing that African penguins exist and that they are willing to pay for their conservation. From the survey, it was determined that the aggregate willingness to pay for penguin conservation in Cape Town was in the order of R551 – R731 million per year. Even though this attenuates with distance, it is assumed that South African residents outside of Cape Town would also be willing to pay for penguin conservation. If extrapolated to the rest of the country, it is estimated that South Africans would be willing to contribute up to R1,101 million to know that penguins continue to exist, that they have an option of visiting them in future, and protecting them for future generations.

Among the other benefits in penguins in areas such as Simonstown and Betty’s Bay, where penguins live in close proximity to built-up areas, include education and environmental stewardship. The study found that publications on penguins generated subsidies of at least R1.9 million in 2023. Penguins also star in advertisements for Cape Town and films and documentaries, such as Penguin Town,, and have not only entertained but also raised awareness about penguin conservation issues. The direct media related value of the penguin colonies was estimated to be almost R2.9 million per year.

The report states that successfully conserving the African penguins is not a one agency issue, but requires big systemic changes. Ultimately, improved management and policy is going to be the answer: an ecosystem approach to fisheries is needed and Ocean health needs to be better managed.

Read 2024 PRESS RELEASE

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Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve

Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve: A New Chapter for Conservation

By Catherine Vise – SOUTPANSBERG PROTECTED AREA PROGRAMME Manager, eNDangered wildlife trust

The recent declaration of South Africa’s newest Nature Reserve, the Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve (WSNR), in Limpopo province marks a milestone for the conservation of threatened and endemic species and contributes to South Africa’s international commitment to grow its conservation estate.

Seven years in the making, the WSNR was finally declared in January 2025, including eight landowners, 14 properties of 11 607 hectares in extent. The Soutpansberg boasts the highest plant diversity at the family level in South Africa. Because of its high plant diversity and endemism, coupled with the fact that it hosts at least 16 endemic reptile species and its high variety of other species, such as spiders and butterflies, the conservation of this area is among the most significant conservation steps in recent years.

This brand-new reserve encompasses a Centre of Endemism, a recognised Key Biodiversity Area, a Strategic Groundwater Source Area, and an expansive Critical Biodiversity Area in the Limpopo Conservation Plan.

The Soutpansberg Mountains are home to an impressive 593 tree species, five different biomes (wetland, forest, savanna, grassland, thicket) and even have fynbos elements. They also house multiple sacred sites, rock art and other archaeological sites, and are important for cultural heritage, with many communities celebrating their vibrant traditions in the region to this day.

Also known as the forgotten mountain, the Soutpansberg contains numerous microclimates, ranging from tropical in the east to semi-arid in the northwest, contributing extensively to its varied and unique biodiversity. But it is an area that faces numerous threats ranging from agriculture and urbanisation to other threats such as unsustainable harvesting of species, snaring, poaching and the lack of fire management on the western end of the mountain.

Amid these challenges, several landowners started working on their own initiative to develop a nature reserve. In 2018, the EWT came on board by purchasing the Medike Reserve with the aim of creating a larger conservation area, and becoming the driver of a project that would ultimately result in the declaration of the Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve. In partnership with the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Ndlovu de Villiers Attorneys, Conservation Outcomes and ZZ2, the EWT published an Intent to Declare a Nature Reserve in the National Gazette in December 2021.

The declaration of the Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve in Limpopo in January contributes towards South Africa’s commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity’s initiative to have 30% of land and 30% of ocean conserved by 2030.

Management

The Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve Association (WSNRA) is the reserve’s management authority. It is a voluntary association for landowners committed to managing their properties as a nature reserve, as part of a collective. Each landowner is a member of the WSNRA and manages their property/ies within the approved WSNR Framework Management Plan, with activities including the management of invasive alien plants, local community engagement projects, environmental education and women’s health workshops in local villages. The EWT and WSNRA are undertaking initiatives that include combating bush encroachment, fire management, invasive species management and the development of eco-tourism initiatives, including the Old Salt Trail, which offers hiking enthusiasts one of the best ways to explore the newly declared nature reserve, and showcases why the Soutpansberg is so special.

The EWT’s alien invasive species removal project has created 20 job opportunities for members of the local community over the years, who have also been trained in health and safety skills and chainsaw operation. Rangers, who have also been trained as field guides, assist with snare removals, anti-poaching patrols and maintenance at the Medike reserve, while hospitality staff and general workers are employed on other properties. As the nature reserve becomes more popular, more employment opportunities will be created.

In working with local communities, the EWT is assisting with the conservation education of young people at primary school level, developing learning materials for schools, and is working with local farmers on agricultural projects that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Landowners have also become involved in the Sport for Nature initiative in the area, providing equipment where needed.

Through the nature reserve, the aim is to uplift and involve the community as much as possible, to support the conservation and management of the protected area with inclusion of everybody. This project is just as important for local communities as it is for conservation.

The future

Work is underway in collaboration with LEDET to expand the reserve by 20,000 ha this year, as part of the EWT’s aim to create a protected area in the Soutpansberg Mountains of 50,000 ha by 2030.

The Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve fits into a critical corridor that links the Soutpansberg Mountains to the Mapungubwe National Park and the Kruger National Park. This corridor connects high biodiversity areas that, through a declared corridor, can maintain the rich and endemic biodiversity integrity of the region. This longer-term vision fits in with the SANParks Vision 2040 for the Vhembe and Limpopo Valley landscape, creating a lot of room for this area to become a Biodiversity Economy node in South Africa.

Plant poaching: An underestimated threat to biodiversity

By Esther Matthew

Roadblocks for illegally traded wildlife products

Succulent poaching has shown a marked increase in South Africa in recent years. Many of these plants will literally bring you to your knees due to their tiny size. But, once you see the details on them, you are immediately transported to world that many people often walk over without noticing.

Unfortunately, poachers have taken note of this, which has resulted in an incredible increase in the illegal harvesting of these unique plants over the last five years, with approximately half a million plants poached in a year. This is a significant problem, with some plant species already pushed to extinction in the wild.

For the EWT Conservation Canine Unit and the Drylands Conservation Programme the solution to most conservation problems is getting nosy, and with that we mean using scent detection dogs to assist us in our conservation work, and in sniffing out any plants being smuggled. Dogs have an remarkable scent ability and are able even find a drop of odour in a waterbody the size two Olympic swimming pools! Keeping that in mind, our two programmes teamed up in 2023 and to train the first three scent detection dogs to help combat the succulent plant poaching problem. In joint operations, our efforts were aimed at screening vehicles at roadblocks and parcels at courier companies. In the first 2 months of working with these dogs we were able to assist the local law enforcement officials supported with four cases, resulting in nine arrests. So, it turns out being nosy is not always a bad thing, and it can even help save our endemic plants.

Thanks to the Dertour Foundation, Endangered Ink and Tourvest, we can continue the work with our dogs to help combat the poaching problem for not only plants but also a variety of other wildlife contraband

Roadblock with Police

Counting Lions: EWT Surveys Decline in Kruger’s Northern Pride

By Marnus Roodbol

Juvenile Lion – KNP. Image by M Roodbol

The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA), which includes Kruger National Park, in South Africa, and Limpopo National Park, in Mozambique, is one of the last ten Lion strongholds in Africa. While these strongholds occur in formally protected areas and contain a stable or increasing population, indications are that the lion population in the northern reaches of the Kruger National Park are declining because of targeted poisonings and poaching.

In partnership with SANParks and the Lion Recovery Fund, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has been monitoring lions across the landscape to understand their movements, habitat use and what measures are needed to alleviate threats to the iconic species.

From 17 September to 1 December 2023, a team from the EWT conducted a lion population survey in the Nxanatseni north region of the Kruger National Park. Spanning 5162 square kilometres, the area spanned the Pafuri, Vlakteplaas, Punda Maria, Shangoni, Woodlands and Shingwedzi sections of the Park.

Two field protocols – search encounter and camera traps – were used to collect data. These were designed to obtain high quality photographs that the team could zoom into and be able to individually identify lions through their unique whisker spots. All photographs taken of lions were inspected to try and identify individuals roaming the area.

Because it is not feasible to find every lion in the landscape, methods were used enabling the team to estimate the number of lions based on a sample of that population. To do this, advanced spatial capture-recapture models that are widely used for large carnivores globally were used. Due to the fact that lions less than one year old tend to suffer high mortality, they were excluded from the analysis.

Results

The EWT team drove 10,006 km and deployed camera traps for 2,684 trap nights over the survey period. Using the combined dataset, it was estimated that there were 105 lions in Nxanatseni North.

Our survey represents the fifth estimate of lions in the Nxanatseni North region of Kruger: In 2005, a call-up survey estimated 283 lions; a 2008 call-up survey with reduced sampling estimated 75 lions; the 2005 survey was replicated in 2015 and estimated a population of 119 lions and in 2023, the estimate was 122 lions. The EWT’s estimate of 105 lions is similar to the latter two surveys.

All were conducted in the same region and are estimates of lions over the age of one year. This represents a possible 63% decline over the 18 years separating the surveys. The precise reasons for this have not been investigated, but anecdotal evidence suggests that there has been an increase in targeted poaching of lions, coupled with increased levels of general bushmeat poaching.

Our results show that lion density is lowest in the Pafuri and Punda Maria sections, areas that are thought to suffer from relatively high levels of snaring, poisoning, and general poaching.

The results also provide a clear signal that distance to water is an important factor explaining the variation in lion density across the landscape. Lion density was highest close to water. In recent times, artificial waterholes have been switched off in Kruger National Park, and this will likely have had an impact on lion numbers in the Nxanatseni North region, which has a semi-arid climate. Worth noting is that while lions are not dependent on water, their primary prey species typically are.

Conservation approaches typically encompass a range of approaches aimed at safeguarding their habitats, mitigating human-lion conflicts, combating poaching and illicit wildlife trade, and fostering harmonious coexistence between lions and local communities.

Identifying trends in lion numbers and demographics remains crucial for their conservation, as is investigating the factors that drive those trends.

We recommend that future conservation efforts are coupled with regular population monitoring in this region to inform conservation actions and assess their effectiveness, taking an adaptive management approach.

** The EWT would like to thank SA National Parks for permission of carry out the survey, AHA Hotels and Lodges for their logistical support and the Lion Recovery Fund for their generous support.