The Endangered Wildlife Trust has been in existence for twenty five years, having been founded in October 1973. In this time, the Trust has become an important player in conservation agencies. We believe strongly in strategic alliances with business, and we work closely with electricity giant Eskom, as an example of this philosophy.

We have funded numerous projects that have improved the plight of many threatened species. We have also helped train many wildlife scientists, who are now making an enormous contribution to the conservation and management of ecosystems and protected areas.

The Trust has dedicated working groups for vultures, raptors, poison, cranes, carnivores, wildlife breeding and the blue swallow. The EWT has pioneered the education of landowners through the publication of booklets such as Vultures and Farmers, Eagles and Farmers, Cranes and Farmers, and Predators and Farmers. The Trust has been in the forefront of rural conservation programmes, and our project in Namibia, started in 1982, has become a textbook model of its kind.

We have achieved major conservation successes, one notable one being our involvement with the Brenton blue butterfly, where our coalition with other NGOs resulted in historical legal actions that have set the example for others to follow. We are currently engaged in similar actions to save the blue swallow.

All these achievements have required hard work, dedication and above all, money. The Trust is and independent, non-governmental, citizen initiative, and we have never received any funds from official quarters. All our money is raised from individual and corporate donors.

The Bushwillow chain of nature conservation stores is one of the Trust's most valued supporters. By donating a part of turnover at all its stores, Bushwillow is making a significant contribution. Every item bought from Bushwillow generates money for the Trust, and enables us to do our work of caring for the Planet. By the end of March 2000, more than 1 million Rand has been donated to the EWT by the Bushwillow operation! Words cannot describe the importance of this contribution to our work.

Through our magazine, Endangered Wildlife, and our annual publication, Vision, we encourage our supporters and readers to support Bushwillow stores, so that they may feel the satisfaction that comes from contributing to the well-being of our wildlife and threatened creatures.

We enjoy a wonderful partnership with Bushwillow, and sincerely believe that we can grow together in the future for our mutual benefit.