Strauss & co - Wildlands 27 March 2014

WILDLANDS CONSERVATION TRUST ART SALE 7 WILDLANDS CONSERVATION TRUST – INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND South Africa is a land of contrast. One of the most naturally diverse countries in the world, it is blessed with magnificent landscapes and truly incredible biodiversity. However, it is also one of the most socially disparate nations of the world. We’re also rapidly transforming and destroying our natural support systems as we struggle with the challenge of surviving under very tough social and economic circumstances. Wildlands works at this interface and has the privilege of making an increasingly significant contribution towards balancing this disparity. We see a South Africa that is able to celebrate and cherish the natural world. That uses this incredible legacy to underwrite the sustainable development of all South Africans . Central to our work is a focus on ‘unlocking the potential of the poor’ ; they have an incredible contribution to make, if they’re only allowed to do so. All our interventions compliment South Africa’s progressive shift to a ‘Green Economy’ . This work is continually being done in partnership with local communities, also instilling a sense of local ownership and ensuring sustainability. Important in all of this has been the commitment to co-creating and partnership . Realizing that the environmental crisis is too big for any organisation to address by itself, Wildlands prides itself in its growing relationship with government, the corporate community and civil society in collectively finding answers for current environmental issues. Wildlands are inspired by an incredible group of individuals countrywide, demonstrating that it is possible to clean and green even the most seemingly ‘hopeless’communities, which has ultimately thrown a challenge to us, the Wildlands Conservation Trust and our network of partners to support them in their endeavours to the best of our ability, and events such as this help raise the funds necessary to do this . It is a privilege and an honour to have you join us this evening, help us build ‘A Sustainable Future for All’ and change people’s lives – Thank you for your support. Photographer: Kelvin Trautman