Conservation Education

Thank you for supporting David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation through GlobalGiving.

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) has always believed that education lies as the heart of conservation solutions and it is one of the Foundation’s three core operational priorities, alongside fighting wildlife crime and protecting endangered species.

Through our UK and global education programme, along with the work carried out by our ground-based conservation partners, DSWF is working to inspire and motivate children and young adults to positively coexist with nature and protect the natural world.

Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic initially hindered education initiatives, DSWF funding allowed our ground-based conservation partners in Africa in Asia to adapt and utilise technology to ensure our engagement with local communities and children has continued to make a real impact.

Zambia: Conservation Awareness

Over the past six months, DSWF has been working to increase conservation awareness in the Nkala Game Management Area, outside the Kafue National Park in Zambia. Having identified 25 eligible primary schools, DSWF supported a series of teacher training workshops to equip 50 teachers to become Conservation Club leaders. These teachers have since established Conservation Clubs with their grade 5-6 students and began delivering weekly environmental education in an extra-curricular setting to more than 1,000 children.

China: Demand Reduction

Acknowledging the need to reduce the demand for wildlife products in China, DSWF has supported a new campaign with wildlife champion and martial arts super star Jackie Chan. The campaign was released to support China’s decision to ban the trade and consumption of terrestrial wild animals in February 2020 and is currently being spread across social media and billboards in China. The campaign was put on billboards across airports and train stations across China and its associated video gained over five million views online.

Kyrgyzstan: Snow Leopard Education

Whilst Kyrgyzstan remains one of the world’s last remaining strongholds for snow leopards, there is a general disconnect between people and nature, especially among children in the more remote regions and locations. Whilst DSWF funding was originally allocated for in-person eco-camps and in-school nature clubs, our support was redirected towards developing a new remotely delivered conservation education programme for children. This aimed to encourage positive values for nature and to equip children with knowledge as a basis for conservation action and continued learning. The team were able to reach over 300 children and their teachers from 18 rural schools

Guinea: Coexistence

In order to empower communities living adjacent to chimpanzee habitats in Guinea, DSWF has been working in the High Niger National Park supporting an education programme to raise awareness on how human activities and environmental exploitation impact wildlife. The positive impact of these projects is already being felt by our partners who are now regularly being contacted when issues arise prior to any animals being harmed

The Bigger Picture

Over the past 12 months, DSWF have continued our 37-year legacy of providing unwavering support to protect some of the world’s most endangered species. Over the course of 2022 we will continue to support our long-term conservation partners to protect wildlife, tackle wildlife crime and reduce poaching threats alongside engaging and supporting more community groups working to protect wildlife.

Thanks to your help, we have granted over £11 million in direct conservation support to turn the tide on extinction.

Plans for 2022 include the development of a new industryleading education strategy to build on our existing portfolio to create a programme that will incorporate the challenges facing endangered species into the mainstream curriculum. As a result, we hope to instil into the psyche of children, both in the UK and further afield, the need to protect our planet and live greener lives whilst empowering the next generation of wildlife warriors

On behalf of everyone at DSWF and the wildlife we fight to protect, Thank You.

Links:

• Read our 2020-2021 Impact Report
• Read our latest Wildlife Matters Magazine.

Thank you for supporting David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation through GlobalGiving. As well as providing you with your bi-annual Conservation Education project report full of fantastic news and results of this project we would also like to inform you about an exciting campaign.

The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation has always believed that people lie at the heart of conservation and that education and community participation is fundamental in ensuring a sustainable future for both people and wildlife.

We are proud to run an influential and far-reaching UK based conservation education programme alongside ground-based projects across Africa and Asia inspiring and motivating children to become the environmental leaders of tomorrow.

Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic initially hindered education initiatives, our ground-based conservation partners have adapted to ensure our engagement with local communities and children has continued to make an impact.

Here are a few highlights of this year’s achievements:

In Russia, DSWF supported a number of online lessons, an art competition with 922 entrants and 90 ecological lessons at an eco-centre where 1,622 children received in depth knowledge about the Amur tiger, its biology, ecology, habitat, threats and conservation methods.

The education team we support in Guinea, despite restrictions, were still able to reach around 280 children to foster positive coexistence between humans and chimpanzees in remote areas.

In Kyrgyzstan, DSWF funding was redirected towards developing a new remotely delivered conservation education program for children. This initiative aimed to encourage positive values for nature and to equip children with knowledge as a basis for conservation action and continued learning. The team were able to reach over 300 children and their teachers from 18 rural schools.

DSWF have been working to increase conservation awareness to empower communities to protect wildlife in Zambia. DSWF supported a series of teacher training workshops to empower and equip 50 teachers to become Conservation Club Leaders. The teachers have since established Conservation Clubs with their grade 5-6 students and began delivering weekly environmental classes in an extra-curricular setting to more than 1,000 children.

In the UK, DSWF’s education manager has continued to visit schools to provide free of charge assemblies, talks and workshops to raise awareness about endangered wildlife and conservation. We believe that the young people of today are the wildlife guardians of tomorrow, and we aim to inform, encourage, and inspire children, in the hope that when they grow up, they will have an interest in the natural world that will last a lifetime. Despite the closure of schools due to Covid-19, virtual school talks were prepared, and 51 virtual talks were given between September 2020 and 31 March 2021. Despite its virtual format, our international youth art competition, Global Canvas, received 2219 entries from 26 countries and the competition final was held online with people attending from around the world in their classes and schools. 

How can you help this vital work continue?

This week GlobalGiving are hosting their annual Little by Little Campaign this means that all donations donated through GlobalGiving to David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation between Monday 13^th and Friday 17^th September will receive 50% match funding from GlobalGiving. So, if you donate £20 today, we receive £30 towards Conservation Education making your contribution work that little bit harder!

We are hugely grateful that you have chosen to support us to help turn the tide on extinction. Thank you.

Little by Little Campaign T’s and C’s

• Campaign runs from Monday 13^th to Friday 17^th September.
• Donations up to the amount of $50 / £36 will be match funded by 50%.
• One donation per unique donor will be match funded.
• New monthly donations set up this week will be 50% match funded and your 4th donation will be 100% matched!
• All DSWF GlobalGiving projects are eligible for match funding.