The Endangered Wildlife Trust is a non governmental, non-profit, conservation organization, founded in 1973 and operating throughout southern Africa. The EWT conserves threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa by initiating research and conservation action programmes, implementing projects which mitigate threats facing species diversity and supporting sustainable natural resource management. The EWT furthermore communicates the principles of sustainable living through awareness programmes to the broadest possible constituency for the benefit of the region. The EWT has developed a unique operational structure through which the mission and objectives of the EWT can be achieved. The EWT achieves its conservation goals through specialist, thematic Programmes, designed to maximize effectiveness in the field and enhance the development of skills and capacity. These Programmes form the backbone of the organization and are essentially self-managed projects harnessing the talent and enthusiasm of a dynamic network of individuals who specialize in an area of conservation importance and have developed unique expertise in response to the challenges they face. Programmes comprise multiple stakeholders and harness their diverse but relevant expertise to address environmental priorities. Stakeholders include national and provincial government, landowners, local communities, ranch workers, conservancies, academic institutions and industry. The EWT also acts as a public watchdog, often taking government and industry to task for decision-making which does not meet sustainability criteria. The EWT is dedicated to conserving threatened species and ecosystems to the benefit of all the people of southern Africa. The organization achieves this mission by: * initiating and implementing conservation research and action programmes; * preventing species extinctions and maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; * supporting sustainable natural resources and management; * communicating the principles of sustainable living and empowering people by capacity building, and awareness programmes to the broadest possible constituency; and * taking a strong leadership and advocacy role in promoting environmental and social justice.