Looking to the Future of Conservation

For more than 30 years, Tusk has carefully nurtured and supported a growing African-led conservation movement. Raising nearly £120m since the charity was founded, I am delighted that revenue in 2022 exceeded expectations and grew by 9% to £14.2m (approx $17.1m USD).

As a result the charity was able to have a significant conservation impact across Africa by investing over £11m in direct conservation work.

Income was buoyed by the return of the Lewa Safari Marathon, our ability to finally host our postponed 30th anniversary Ball at The Natural History Museum and the spectacular 10th anniversary of the Tusk Conservation Awards at Hampton Court Palace. Additionally, our Wildlife Ranger Challenge, now in its third year, raised £2.6m in support of nearly 10,000 rangers.

Protecting the natural world has never been more critical and we welcomed the commitment made by 196 countries at the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) held in Montreal in December to protect 30% of the planet’s biodiversity by 2030. The urgency is clear - in less than 50 years we have lost nearly 70% of the planet’s mammals, birds, fish and reptiles, whilst the human population has tripled.

Africa accounts for 25% of all global biodiversity and behind the proposals at COP15 was the connection between protecting biodiversity and tackling climate change. We can no longer afford to view wildlife and habitat conservation in isolation, but very much an integral part of the solution. Africa’s forests, mangroves, coral reefs, and savannah grasslands store vast amounts of carbon, so protecting these ecosystems is vital for tempering the planet’s climate.

However, the greatest threat to Africa’s rich natural heritage continues to come from mankind. Our increasing human footprint, conflict with wildlife, illegal charcoal burning and poaching, combined with our ability to destroy so much of the environment is truly alarming.

Tusk’s vision is both simple and possible – a future in which people and wildlife can both thrive across Africa. We demonstrably continue to see how our conservation efforts can protect nature whilst creating jobs, supporting education and improving livelihoods – particularly through the growing number of community-based programmes that Tusk is proud to have invested in for over two decades.

Tusk’s vision is both simple and possible – a future in which people and wildlife can both thrive across Africa.

Our funding is now applied through four parallel funds: our longstanding Tusk Fund, which supports the high impact work of our core portfolio of partners; the Ranger Fund, which supports the employment, training and welfare of rangers across Africa; the Tusk Awards, which recognise the work of some remarkable ‘unsung’ conservationists; and lastly our Collaboration Fund. We are excited this new fund will help to drive greater collaboration and support important joint ventures – particularly those emanating from our biennial Conservation Symposium and initiatives such as our Round Table at St James’s Palace so kindly hosted by our Royal Patron last November.

Likewise, we are excited by two new revenue sources, which will help build greater sustainable income. Our longstanding corporate partner, Ninety One, not only made a £1m donation last year, it has recently launched a new share class within their Global Sustainable Equities Fund, from which the firm is committed to donating 100% of its annual management fee to Tusk. The charity has also established a new partnership with Exceptional Travel by which the specialist African travel company will kindly donate a meaningful share of their profits.

As ever, we remain incredibly grateful for all the support we have received this last year from so many individuals, foundations and companies across the world. After all, it is only with your financial support that we may continue to back and invest in the remarkable work of our Tusk project partners – the true unsung heroes of conservation.

Thank you!

Tusk works across Africa to further its mission.