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Twenty years ago, Africa was in the midst of a poaching crisis. Black rhino were on the brink of extinction (just 2,000 remained) and the African elephant population was being slaughtered at a rate of 100,000 each year, just for their ivory. Drastic times required urgent action.

Tusk was established in response to an urgent need to halt the decline in Africa’s natural heritage and find a way to combine the interests of people and wildlife alike.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF AFRICA
Since its formation in 1990, Tusk has raised over $25 million for a wide range of projects across Africa which not only work to protect wildlife, particularly endangered species, but also help to alleviate poverty, through sustainable development and education amongst rural communities who live alongside wildlife.

Tusk currently provides financial, logistical and practical support for a large portfolio of field projects spread across 18 African countries. This support includes the purchase of vehicles, aircraft, radio equipment, as well as the construction of primary and secondary schools, clinics, water improvement schemes, roads, buildings, bridges and airstrips, in addition to helping to cover the direct costs of game scouts and wildlife management.

The charity views conservation as a long term investment, relying upon a partnership with key individuals and organizations that have a proven track record in conservation. It is an approach which has allowed Tusk to fully maximize its investment into the field whilst minimizing its core operational and administrative costs. Since inception, Tusk has invested on average between 75-80% of net funds raised into the field.

PROTECTING WILDLIFE
Through the support of Tusk and its partner organisations across Africa, greater protection has been afforded to some 36 endangered species over a combined land mass equivalent to 10 times the size of Belgium. Some of the threatened species that have benefited include the African elephant, black and white rhino, cheetah, chimpanzee, mountain and lowland gorilla, African wild dog, Grevy’s zebra, giant sable and hawksbill turtle.

In keeping with Tusk’s overall philosophy these projects are often not solely focused on wildlife, instead they take an integrated approach to conservation working hand in hand with local communities and combining the protection of wildlife with the management and sustainable use of natural resources.

SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES
Tusk’s approach to conservation recognizes that the long term future for wildlife and Africa’s other natural resources is dependant on sustainable rural development. In conjunction with its partners in the field, Tusk has been at the forefront of establishing and promoting community-led initiatives which link the implementation of greater security, infrastructure, healthcare and employment through responsible tourism and other nature-based enterprises with conservation. One such program supported by Tusk has already seen over three million acres of community land come under a common conservation policy with an initiative which is mutually benefiting 75,000 people of diverse ethnicity and affording greater protection for a significant wildlife population.

The aim is to reduce human wildlife conflict and to allow people to view their natural heritage as a real asset. Projects supported by the charity directly employ 1,370 people and benefit over half a million others.

PROMOTING EDUCATION
Tusk believes that if conservation is to succeed and environmental degradation to be reversed then education needs to be promoted at an early age.

Tusk’s Pan African Conservation Education (PACE) Project has been designed to help address this need by communicating ideas on environmental issues, whether in the form of practical advice or demonstrating proven solutions between communities across Africa. The highly acclaimed set of teaching materials and films has been designed to act as both an environmental education tool and a stimulus to adopt sound and sustainable policies. To date, over 150,000 children and students across the continent have been exposed to Tusk’s PACE program. 

Furthermore, Tusk provides much needed financial support to help build and improve facilities for rural schools, and other education centers across Africa. Over 72,000 students attend schools and education centers supported by Tusk.

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