EARTH CHATS welcomes Justin Smith, Head of Business Development for the World Wildlife Fund of South Africa. Justin is inspired most by the depth and breadth of work done by WWF and by the amazing people who champion the conservation cause with such great commitment regardless of the daily challenges.
Listen to the Earth Chat with Justin Smith below:
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About Justin Smith
Justin Smith joined WWF in October 2017 to head up business development, marketing and fundraising. Justin spent the past 17 years leading corporate sustainability functions, first at Standard Bank and Nedbank and most recently at Woolworths Holdings.
At WWF, Justin works alongside a dedicated fundraising team to provide both strategic and entrepreneurial direction in support of sustainable business development and innovative fundraising strategies. He is also responsible for supporting and growing engagement with the corporate sector. Justin holds a B Comm Law; LLB degree; B Comm Honours in Financial Management (all cum Laude from the University of Pretoria) and LLM University of South Africa (UNISA) – Environmental Law, International Economic Law, and International law.
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, SOUTH AFRICA Building a sustainable and equitable future, for nature and you
https://www.wwf.org.za/our_story/trusts/the_wwf_nedbank_green_trust.cfm 
https://www.wwf.org.za/our_story/trusts/the_table_mountain_fund.cfm 
http://wildlifecollege.org.za/about/sawc-trust/ 
https://www.wwf.org.za/our_story/trusts/the_national_parks_trust.cfm 
https://www.wwf.org.za/our_story/trusts/the_leslie_hill_succulent_karoo_trust.cfm
About the WWF – World Wildlife Fund, South Africa
Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was president of the World Wildlife Fund in 1968 and he approached South African businessman and conservationist, Dr Anton Rupert, to work towards securing South Africa’s wildlife and nature. There was no doubt that South Africa’s biodiversity (plants, animals and ecosystem) urgently needed to be conserved.
The Southern African Wildlife Foundation was formed in 1968, later becoming the Southern African Nature Foundation and in 1995 renamed to WWF South Africa. Since its founding, WWF has been dedicated to protecting South Africa’s natural heritage. This includes plant and animal species, and people. In 2018, WWF South Africa celebrated 50 years of environmental achievements and impact.
Furthering Conservation Work
WWF manage a number of trusts and each trust is an independent legal entity that has contracted WWF to manage it.
- THE LESLIE HILL SUCCULENT KAROO TRUST – The Succulent Karoo is one of South Africa’s crown jewels, boasting an array of succulents, many of which are found nowhere else on earth.
- THE NATIONAL PARKS TRUST OF SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa is home to 10% of the world’s bird, fish and plant species, over 6% of the world’s mammal and reptile species, and the world’s smallest but most diverse floral kingdom.
- SOUTHERN AFRICAN WILDLIFE COLLEGE TRUST – Nurturing and strengthening conservation leadership for today and tomorrow, the future of our continent depends on the future of our natural heritage.
- THE TABLE MOUNTAIN FUND – The Cape Floristic Region sustains well over 9000 plant species, with almost 70% of these endemic to the Cape.
- THE WWF NEDBANK GREEN TRUST – The WWF Nedbank Green Trust makes it easy for you to give back to the environment and the people around you by linking your conservation efforts to a bank account through Nedbank.
ELEPHANTS ALIVE – The last stronghold for African Elephants
What is GHOST FISHING – The Strandloper Project finding SOLUTION for recreational fishing pollution
