What we do

Conflict between humans and wildlife is one of the greatest threats to the survival of the latter. This conflict results from threats to humans, competition for space or grazing, predation of livestock and/or damage to crops. The result is often revenge killings of wildlife, loss of wildlife range and habitat, hostility to wildlife. Wildlife is always the loser but this conflict also undermines community empowerment efforts. This conflict arises almost everywhere there is large wildlife and humans living in proximity to each other.

A myriad of possible solutions exist, depending upon local circumstances. A selection include empowerment initiatives to reduce communities’ dependence on natural resources for survival, education, cluster and sustainable farming and rangeland management, physical barriers, early warning systems, herding schemes etc. The Wilderness Trust has supported communities and NGOs working in this space in northern Namibia and Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Rwanda. This is an ongoing challenge and ongoing support will be needed.

Learn about ways to contribute

The desert areas of north-west Namibia are inhabited by unique wildlife adapted to living in such harsh conditions. These include desert-adapted elephants and black rhino, lions and other predators, as well as various browsers and grazers. The black rhino population in this region is the largest free-ranging rhino population on earth and is also unique in suffering poaching challenges that are lower than those experienced by other populations.

This region has experienced a 14-year drought with conditions that are dramatically worse than even the norms. This drought has exacerbated the already tenuous conditions under which these wildlife populations live and brought them into elevated conflict with humans populating these regions. These have also come under pressure as the result of the drought and reduced their tolerance for wildlife, resulting in revenge killings in some instances.

The Wilderness Trust supports communities, CBOs and NGOs working in this region to alleviate these challenges. As always, a myriad of strategies are employed, depending on the local need. Mechanisms to give the communities meaningful stake/s in their wildlife, and thus create incentives for conservation, are much favoured. Other strategies include development of alternative livelihoods, capacity-building strategies for communities and CBOs, wildlife monitoring and management (such as translocations, where needed to supplement drought-impacted populations), human-wildlife conflict mitigation and anti-poaching efforts.  

Learn about ways to contribute

The Wilderness Trust has a long history of supporting rhino conservation programmes in countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia. This is unusual in that the Trust does not usually focus on single-species conservation efforts. But the threats to survival of the black rhino in particular are such that we believe such efforts are warranted in this case.

Over the years, the Trust has supported rhino conservation measures such as reintroductions, monitoring and anti-poaching, as well as more hands-on management measures such as dehorning and fitting of tracking devices. These have been supplemented by measures to build local community support, mainly through empowerment. The need for such measures is a severe now, as ever, and likely to remain so.

Read about ways to contribute

When it comes to increasing the mountain gorilla population, the key is ensuring they have somewhere to live. Our forest habitat expansion project aims to increase the range of mountain gorillas in and around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Through restoring a more diverse indigenous landscape, in turn we provide employment opportunities for several hundred community members.

To date, land has been acquired to increase range available to gorillas and other wildlife. More than 100,000 indigenous trees have been planted, encouraging the return to the property of indigenous species such as  golden monkeys, serval, side-striped jackals and a multitude of forest birds.

Similarly, the protection of Gishwati Forest has seen chimpanzee numbers grow from a mere 13 individuals to over 30 individuals and their forest habitat almost double. These are numbers that we want to see increasing, through further expansion, reforestation and restoration. With an established indigenous tree nursery, over 20,000 indigenous trees have been planted with more rooting themselves daily.

Read about ways to contribute

Although more pro-active measures are usually more effective, there remains a meaningful role in many situations to support law enforcement activities to prevent poaching and other unlawful activities in protected areas.

This is usually the domain of governments but they are always under-resourced and there are situations where private interventions are essential.

Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park in a case in point where lions, elephants and giraffe and other ungulates often fall prey to snares, while poisoning of elephant by ivory poachers is increasing. Together with the Scorpion Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) we provide the manpower and resources to assist Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) in reducing these levels of poaching.

It’s a purpose-driven multi-pronged approach that provides practical on-the-ground response, with community education, data collection and guest participation.

Read about ways to contribute

Poor people have no alternative but to rely on use of their natural resources to survive. The ongoing survival of wildlife and wild spaces is ultimately dependent on the value that local people derive from them. This value must also exceed that which communities can derive from alternative uses of the land.  

Community empowerment initiatives supported by the Wilderness Trust are intended to increase the value derived by people from their wildlife and wild spaces, giving them a stake in their survival. They also create conservation economies that reduce poverty and reliance on natural resources. These initiatives vary from location to location but can include education, reduction in human-wildlife conflict, development and support to new businesses, incorporation of the latter in tourism supply chains, sustainable farming and improvements to community infrastructure.

Learn about ways to contribute

It’s no secret that investing in the minds of the future ensures the most sustainable outcome. Children in the Wilderness (CITW) is Wilderness’ flagship community engagement and education impact programme.
If we are to ensure our wild, untamed places continue to exist, the children of Africa should be the ones preaching the importance of conservation and its relevance in their lives.

Hence, this environmental and life skills educational programme focusing on the next generation of decision-makers through hosting Eco-Club programmes at local partner schools, running annual camps at Wilderness camps, upskilling local teachers and Wilderness staff in environmental projects, and mentoring those children with commitment and potential to take on conservation leadership roles.

Read about ways to contribute

In many of the areas where we operate, primary education is free or has a minimal charge, while secondary schooling is expensive. As a result, many children only ever complete primary schooling. Providing a child with the opportunity to complete their education is life-changing and a gift we are privileged to facilitate. We also assist with paying school fees, buying uniforms, and providing boarding accommodation.

In addition to this, we assist local councils with schooling infrastructure, and assist in building school gardens and implementing nutrition programmes. We believe true, effective learning can only take place when other, more basic needs are met.

Read about ways to contribute