african people & wildlife 2016 annual … the amboseli ecosystem’s most iconic bulls. i...

AFRICAN PEOPLE & WILDLIFE2016 ANNUAL REPORT

APW 2016 ANNUAL REPORT 3

DEAR FRIEND,

As a young conservationist, I fell in love with an elephant in Kenya. His name was Dionysus, one of the Amboseli ecosystem’s most iconic bulls. I enjoyed watching him in the Kimana Community Wildlife Sanctuary. He was a quiet, relaxed bull, and I found serenity in his company.

In 2003, at the age of 63, Dionysus was speared in Kimana and eventually died. The sanctuary was a ghost of what it had been when I lived there and watched him feed peacefully in the swamp. No community benefits, wildlife absent. The result of a model that kicked off with a tragic flaw— the lack of true engagement of the local community.

My mind gravitates to this sad event as we begin a year that holds great uncertainty around the state of environmental protection. At African People & Wildlife, we know there has never been a more urgent time to fight for wildlife, people, and our planet. With the roars of lions reverberating at Noloholo, new lion prides establishing territories in formerly conflict-prone areas, local women benefitting from wildlife-friendly honey, youth carrying the message of conservation to their peers and families, and local communities embracing the challenge of rangeland protection, I know there is hope—hope supported by an effective, comprehensive model of community-driven conservation.

Our mission as we go forward is to provide support to the growing number of communities across northern Tanzania who are reaching out

to work with us. To accomplish this, we will keep on developing the skills of our team and refining the tools we use to work efficiently. And we will continue to approach our work with a spirit of innovation and a responsiveness to local points of view. I am very thankful for our team, partners, supporters, colleagues, and the many, many community members we partner with. Together, we are finding the balance* for people and wildlife.

Thank you very much,

Laly L. Lichtenfeld, Ph.D.Co-Founder and Executive Director

2016 Lowell Thomas Awardee for Open Space Conservation

*For more of Laly’s thoughts on Finding the Balance, see her new TEDx talk at tedxjacksonhole.org.

“At African People & Wildlife, we know there has never been a more urgent time to fight

for wildlife, people, and our planet.”Laly Lichtenfeld, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Executive Director

African People & Wildlife (APW) works to ensure a future where humans and wild animals thrive living side by side. We partner with local communities to create effective, sustainable solutions that improve the lives of rural Africans while protecting the natural world.

CONTENTS

4 Our Model 6 Human-Wildlife Conflict Prevention 8 Wildlife and Habitat Conservation10 Community Natural Resource Management12 Youth Environmental Education14 Sustainable Enterprise Development16 Our Impact at a Glance18 Evaluating Our Impact19 Our Team20 Financial Summary21 How You Can Help 22 Our Donors

4 APW 2016 ANNUAL REPORT APW 2016 ANNUAL REPORT 3

Our model establishes long-term relationships with local communities, empowering rural Africans to successfully manage their natural resources while achieving significant ecological and financial benefits.

FOUR-STEP PROCESS

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN

APPROACH

SUSTAINABLE, LONG-TERM

CONSERVATION SUCCESS

+ =

Our Model

1 2 3 4Prevent conflict

We support strong communities and healthy wildlife populations by reducing and

preventing conflict between people, wildlife, and even

local institutions and stakeholders.

Build community capacity to manage

natural resources

We work with rural communities to understand their

environmental needs and priorities and help develop their

knowledge, skills, and abilities to manage

their natural resources effectively.

Support active environmental

conservation by the community

We empower local people to lead their own conservation initiatives

by contributing financial resources, tools,

and expertise.

Foster local conservation

incentives

We promote the ecological and

financial benefits of wise environmental

conservation, strengthening

livelihoods while protecting

wildlife habitats.

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN APPROACHOur community-driven approach explores local points of view, mobilizing rural people to express their challenges in the context of their own experiences, perspectives, and language.

This cooperation creates a shared dialogue with our team, building a specialized knowledge and understanding of community needs. It also develops a sense of trust as we work hand-in-hand to develop solutions to conservation and natural resource challenges.

LIVING WALLS To protect livestock from attacks by lions, leopards, hyenas, and occasionally cheetahs and wild dogs, APW partners with communities to build environmentally-friendly corrals called Living Walls. To build a Living Wall, community members plant a circle of trees that serve as posts for chain-link fencing. As the trees grow, they add height to the wall and create an impenetrable barrier. To date, more than 150,000 living Commiphora trees have been planted as fence posts in support of Living Walls. Living Walls prevent the retaliatory killing of large carnivores with a 99% success rate, and no lions have been killed at homesteads were Living Walls are installed.

WARRIORS FOR WILDLIFE Warriors for Wildlife are community-led teams that prevent human-wildlife conflict across five programmatic areas. Team members guide the installation of Living Walls, collect real-time data about conflict events, and help locate lost livestock at pasture. Because Warriors for Wildlife were born and raised where they work in northern Tanzania, they understand the unique challenges faced by the local people. When a human-wildlife conflict event occurs, Warriors are often able to diffuse the situation and prevent their fellow community members from retaliating against wild animals.

WHERE WE WORKNorthern Tanzania is one of the world’s greatest centers of large mammal biodiversity. Today, human population growth, unplanned development, agricultural expansion, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change threaten the future of the region. We are currently applying our model in six critical conservation landscapes across this region, and plan to scale it even further into surrounding areas in the coming years. Our conservation landscapes include:

1. Maasai Steppe2. Lake Burunge-Manyara3. Engaruka Valley

4. Greater Lake Natron5. West Kilimanjaro6. Ngorongoro Conservation Area

NOLOHOLO ENVIRONMENTAL CENTERIn 2006, APW made history in Tanzania by becoming the first international nonprofit organization to receive land donated by a Maasai community. The Noloholo Environmental Center—which serves as the organization’s headquarters—was built just outside of the border of Tarangire National Park. Noloholo is the only center of its kind in the region and is an important resource for local communities, conservation organizations, and government authorities. Constructed using green design methods, the center’s 10-acre campus operates on 24-hour solar power and utilizes rainwater harvesting.


Every day, lions and other large carnivores are killed as their habitats collide with expanding human communities. APW reduces conflict between people and wildlife through innovative solutions that balance science and technology with traditional knowledge.

LIVING WALLS To protect livestock from attacks by lions, leopards, hyenas, and occasionally cheetahs and wild dogs, APW partners with communities to build environmentally-friendly corrals called Living Walls. To build a Living Wall, community members plant a circle of trees that serve as posts for chain-link fencing. As the trees grow, they add height to the wall and create an impenetrable barrier. To date, more than 150,000 living Commiphora trees have been planted as fence posts in support of Living Walls. Living Walls prevent livestock attacks by large carnivores with a 99% success rate, and no lions have been killed at homesteads where Living Walls are installed.

WARRIORS FOR WILDLIFE Warriors for Wildlife are community-led teams that prevent human-wildlife conflict across five programmatic areas. Team members guide the installation of Living Walls, collect real-time data about conflict events, and help locate lost livestock at pasture. Because Warriors for Wildlife were born and raised where they work in northern Tanzania, they understand the unique challenges faced by the local people. When a human-wildlife conflict event occurs, Warriors are often able to diffuse the situation and prevent their fellow community members from retaliating against wild animals.

750+LIVING WALLSCONSTRUCTEDSINCE OUR PROGRAM BEGAN

success rate of Living Walls in preventing

retaliatory lion killings

family members in 24 communities positively impacted by Living Walls

Warriors for Wildlifepreventing human-wildlife

conflict in 20 villages

100% 12,500+ 34

Human-Wildlife Conflict Prevention

2016 HIGHLIGHTS

“I want to help people eliminate their fear of living with lions. I want them to understand that when lions are healthy, the ecosystem is in balance and

the Maasai community is also healthy.”Elvis Kisimir, Human-Wildlife Conflict Program Officer

LIONS SAVEDEACH YEAR(APPROXIMATE)

150


The protection of wildlife and vital habitats requires the commitment of rural people. APW partners with local communities to conserve endangered species and safeguard natural resources.

HABITAT PROTECTION Africa’s wildlife populations require large and healthy habitats. APW empowers local communities to protect their rangelands by working with them to monitor and manage natural resources effectively. We also support a team of community scouts, who regularly patrol targeted areas to prevent deforestation, fight illegal charcoal production, manage bushfires, and educate local people on the importance of environmental protection.

WILDLIFE MONITORING AND TRACKINGLarge carnivores must have healthy prey populations in order to thrive. To ensure that our programs are making a positive impact, local wildlife numbers are closely monitored. While our

Warriors for Wildlife team records signs of big cat and wild dog presence across northern Tanzania, APW and its partners conduct wildlife counts in targeted areas. For the past five years, key prey species populations have shown a sustained increase in APW’s most intensely monitored site.

ANTI-POACHING PATROLSOur highly-trained anti-poaching unit conducts regular patrols to fight the illegal killing of elephants, giraffes, and other vulnerable wildlife species. Over the past three years, the team’s work has resulted in notable decreases in poaching within their target area.

Wildlife and Habitat Conservation “It is so critical to protect the environment.

With climate change and other challenges, natural resources are stressed for all—wild animals

and people. This gives us all the more reason to conserve our wild habitats.”

Gerard Raphael, Squad Leader, Loibor Siret Community Scout Team

YEARS OF SUSTAINED INCREASES IN KEY PREY SPECIES POPULATIONS

5ENDANGERED OR VULNERABLE LARGE MAMMALS CONSERVED

7


Due to the negative effects of climate change, increasing livestock populations, and shifts in land use, the quality of critical pastures in northern Tanzania is declining. APW helps rural communities to preserve their livelihoods through effective natural resource management.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOOLSAs people tackle the evolving challenges of wise natural resource management, APW is responsive to their needs. We help provide the technical tools and expertise required to ensure the positive ecological impact of local projects.

COMMUNITY RANGELAND MONITORING AND MANAGEMENTOur community rangeland monitoring and management program mobilizes local governments to make timely decisions about the management of their grasslands. In partnership with a team

of volunteer rangeland assessors, we are creating a mobile-based reporting system that will help assessors provide regular updates on pasture quality to their community networks.

NOLOHOLO ENVIRONMENTAL SMALL PROJECTS FUNDThe Noloholo Environmental Small Projects Fund empowers local people to lead their own conservation initiatives. Communities involved in our rangeland program can apply to receive access to capital to implement projects that protect vital watersheds, supply rainwater to local schools, and conserve pastures for use during drought conditions.

Community Natural ResourceManagement

“The effective management of Tanzania’s rangelands is certainly challenging. But, if the people who live on these lands

are well empowered to govern and benefit from the resources found there, then they will ensure the health, diversity,

and productivity of these critical areas.”Neovitus Sianga, Community Conservation and Environment Program Officer

VOLUNTEERS MONITORING THE QUALITY OF COMMUNITY RANGELANDS

10

RURAL PEOPLE EMPOWERED TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES

1,100+


APW is helping to grow the next generation of conservation leaders. We directly impact rural children through a variety of programs, summarized below.

WILDLIFE CLUBS Students in our after-school Wildlife Clubs study topics such as local wildlife ecology and natural resource management. They also plan and execute fun-filled, community-wide events like World Lion Day. Wildlife Club graduates serve as environmental mentors to other youth. ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMER CAMPS Week-long environmental summer camps provide rural students with in-depth knowledge about specific conservation themes. To participate, campers must compete via a written exam and be active members in one of our Wildlife Clubs.

NATIONAL PARK TRIPS Visiting a national park is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many rural youth. Each year, we

take our Wildlife Club members on a field trip to Tarangire National Park, where they are exposed to the tourism industry and can see and learn about wild animals in a relaxed atmosphere. Pre- and post-trip evaluations have shown increased knowledge about wildlife and the environment.

NOLOHOLO ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARSHIPS Many rural youth in Tanzania cannot afford the cost of education beyond primary school. To date, we have provided 32 high-achieving students with six-year, full-ride scholarships to a private secondary school. We have also awarded ten additional youth with scholarships to attend a local secondary school. The first graduates of the program are now pursuing their education at universities.

6,000+SCHOOLCHILDREN TAUGHT ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

FULL-RIDE SECONDARY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS GRANTED

42

Environmental Education

“I love all the science subjects, but my favorite subject is biology.

I would like to be an animal biologist one day.”Hussein Maricha, Noloholo Environmental Scholar


2016 HIGHLIGHTS

Microfinance and small businesses are the foundations for economic growth in rural Tanzania. By combining entrepreneurship with eco-friendly business principles, APW’s sustainable enterprise programs uplift communities while protecting the environment.

WOMEN’S BEEKEEPING INITIATIVE We empower rural women to harness the financial benefits of wise environmental protection. Using microgrants provided by APW, local women’s groups mobilize to start their own beekeeping businesses. When the wildlife-friendly honey is sold to local stores and tourism camps, the women earn a sustainable revenue stream they can use to support their families, develop additional businesses, and become true entrepreneurs.

As their businesses grow, the women’s groups support one another through mentorship and knowledge-sharing. Along the way, APW’s

beekeeping team provides support in hive management and harvesting, working with the women to improve harvest rates. COMMUNITY-LEVEL BENEFITS FROM CONSERVATIONAPW strengthens the ability of rural communities to benefit from sustainable wildlife tourism. Opened in 2016, the Oldonyo Nape campsite is 100% community-owned and operated. As a source of revenue for local people, the campsite reinforces the value of wildlife species that sometimes cause conflict with humans, such as lions, elephants, and buffalo.

Sustainable EnterpriseDevelopment“I see a bright future after receiving

the money we earned from the first honey harvest. I will be better able to take care

of my family. I can spend more on healthcare and also save money for the future.”Salome Mpongoliana, Member of Ngao Women’s Group

WOMEN INVOLVED IN SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

900+COMMUNITY-OWNED AND OPERATED CAMPSITE

100%

beehives generating income for women while protecting

critical wildlife habitats

in revenue earned by women’s groups from nearly two tons of harvested honey (2016 harvest)

participating women’s groups in three communities

690 $4,500+ 50

threatened large carnivore species protected by

innovative Living Walls and Warriors for Wildlife

partnerships entered into in northern Tanzania, adding value

to our conservation impact

full-time staff and field team members contributing to conservation; 97% are Tanzanian citizens

invested in community- driven conservation

over the last five years

5 5+ 100+$3mof a kind environmental center supports field conservationists

and partners

1highly ambitious community-

driven conservation model developed and scaling

1

Our Impactat a Glance

Our strategic and holistic conservation model is designed to benefit both people and wildlife while helping to preserve the natural environment for future generations. Our programs positively impact 22 communities in six critical conservation landscapes across northern Tanzania.


18 APW 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Our Team

“We are very proud of the more than 100 program officers, educators, scientists, and community members who are contribuing to APW’s on-the-ground efforts. Together,

we are making a real difference for people and wildlife.” Charles Trout, Co-Founder and Director of Programs

Loshiro Alais Rangeland Management Program Officer

Samson BeahBeekeeping Program Officer

Yusuph B. KaayaFinance and Administration Officer

Elvis KisimirHuman-Wildlife Conflict Program Officer

Revocatus MagayaneEnvironmental Education Program Officer

Mercy SadockConservation Enterprise Program Officer

Neovitus SiangaCommunity Conservation and Environment Program Officer

Board of DirectorsRosalie BallantineVirginia DeanDr. Laly LichtenfeldMark LichtenfeldJonathan MeadeAnn SmithCharles Trout

MEASURING IMPACT, MONITORING EFFECTIVENESSEnsuring the positive impact of our programs requires a science-driven and adaptive approach to conservation and community development. Our Monitoring and Evaluation Unit is designed to help us receive and process programmatic data quickly, efficiently, and effectively. Getting the results of this information back into the hands of our team and our partners strengthens our efforts and helps us to continually evolve our programs. This data-driven approach also allows us to tell our story more effectively and share our impact with supporters.

MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES IMPROVE PERFORMANCEAs we expand our programs throughout northern Tanzania, the ability to access data from remote locations quickly, accurately, and reliably is critical. Mobile technologies improve our efficiency. Our field teams use platforms like Cybertracker and SMART as well as an Online Data Kit (ODK) system to collect and share real-time data via a smartphone to a central server. Our Monitoring and Evaluation Unit then cleans and analyzes the data, allowing us to quickly determine information such as lion-conflict hotspots and direct our conflict officers to areas where tensions are highest.

Over 96% of our staff are Tanzanian citizens. Most are employed under our sister organization, Tanzania People & Wildlife, which is a Tanzania-registered non-governmental organization. We are very proud of our staff members’ accomplishments and are dedicated to their professional and personal development.

African People & Wildlife’s Board of Directors oversees high-level program direction and provides legal and financial oversight. The board ensures that the majority of contributions fund our programs in the field.

Evaluating Our Impact

TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Camera trap ODK Technology


As we continue to grow and expand, your support will help us to conserve even more of Africa’s big cats and other wildlife species while empowering and strengthening the communities who serve as our conservation partners.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of AfricanPeople & Wildlife, we created an endowment fund in 2015. If you wish to help build our endowment, please note this on your contribution and your support will be gratefully earmarked.

In 2016, over 96% of donations supported our conservation programs. Donors are welcome to allocate 100% of a gift to a specific program or activity.

A variety of charitable gifts are accepted, including:

• Cash contributions• Marketable securities (stocks)• Matching gifts programs• Mutual funds, IRAs, Annuities• CDs, savings accounts, brokerage accounts• Trusts and Bequests• Real estate and personal property

For more information or to make a donation, please visit africanpeoplewildlife.org/donate or contact us at [email protected].

APW is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law (EIN: 20-3153855).


How You Can Help

Financial Summary

Statement of Revenue and Expenses*

Fiscal year ending June 30, 2016

Revenue Individuals $141,665Grants & Private Foundations $646,243 Corporations $23,957Program Services $1,300Investment Income $18Total Revenue $813,183

Expenses Conservation Programs $666,340General and Administration $19,575Fundraising $5,339Total Expenses $691,254Balance $121,929

Statement of Financial Position As of June 30, 2016

Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents $414,173Land and Buildings $307,732Property and Equipment $25,635Total Assets $747,540

Liabilities and Net Assets Liabilities $689Beginning Assets $652,703Change in Net Assets $94,148Total Liabilities and Net Assets $746,851

*Combined total for APW and TPW

20 APW 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Total RevenueJuly 1, 2015–

June 30, 2016

79.5% Grants and Private Foundations

96.4% Conservation Programs

17.4%Individuals

.2%Program Services

.8%Fundraising

2.94%Corporations

2.8%General andAdministrationTotal Expenses

July 1, 2015– June 30, 2016

P.O. Box 624Bernardsville, NJ 07924P: (908) 642-1540E: [email protected]

@AfricanPeopleWildlife

@AfricanPeopleWildlife

@AfricanPplWild

african people & wildlife 2016 annual … the amboseli ecosystem’s most iconic bulls. i...

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