African Conservation Trust (ACT)

About us

The African Conservation Trust (ACT) is an established not-for-profit and public benefit organisation that has been operating in southern Africa since 2000. We strive to contribute to a world where urban and rural communities take responsible care of their environment, work consciously to conserve and protect natural resources in sustainable ways, and preserve historical assets and heritage for the benefit of future generations.
Our core focus areas are environmental conservation and the socio-economic upliftment of vulnerable communities. Wherever possible, ACT initiatives work in partnership with local communities and other stakeholders to promote long term success. Job creation, poverty alleviation, community sustainability and education are key principles in all our projects.

Vision
A World which is able to sustain human life, profitable as a result of investment into our most precious asset: Planet Earth, with its abundant natural resources; profitable enough for people to draw from its environmental goods and services, and from a social and economic sense. Living, in that our Planet and its inhabitants are not simply surviving, but are flourishing, and have capacity to give, share and grow.

Mission
• Conservation: Create significant and sustainable environmental change, specifically focusing on climate change, water conservation, food security, waste recycling, sustainable energy, preservation of endangered indigenous fauna and flora and greening projects that incorporate poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihoods
• Education: Increase the capacity and expertise of the southern African environment/conservation community, by transferring skills, providing mentorship and building supportive networks that support the development and sustainability of the entire environment/conservation sector.
• Innovation: Use modern technology, specifically GIS capacity to enhance conservation efforts and to pioneer socio-ecological approaches to protected area management

What we do
• Food Security: Gardens & rainwater harvesting for schools, crèches and homesteads; Accredited and non-accredited training workshops; Heirloom seed saving workshops
• Biodiversity Conservation: Supporting rhino conservation through the ACT Rhino Fund; Jozini Cycad Conservation; Indigenous Butterfly Conservation; iSimangaliso environmental education field trips; Range expansion and protected area management
• Natural Resource Management: Community Solar Projects; Biological Farms; Gulley rehabilitation;
• Heritage Conservation: Rock art enhancement and documentation; Historic buildings and battlefields preservation

Kira Macdougall is an ACT Staff Member.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.