Convening for Collaboration in Conservation

The pandemic was extremely tough for everyone the world over. The conservation sector, in particular, endured huge losses in tourism, dramatic cut backs in operating budgets, and sadly redundancies too.

In March of 2022, with the early signs of the world emerging from the pandemic, we were joined by 60 of our project partners, trustees and donors in the Maasai Mara National Reserve for our third Tusk Conservation Symposium, which was generously funded by the Nick Maughan Foundation. Over four days, with the help of our partners, Maliasili, we explored how Covid had affected everyone’s work, what opportunities it presented by disrupting the status quo and the prospects it presented to rebuild better for the future. The theme of the gathering was ‘Building Resilience in African Conservation’.

Above Tusk Conservation Symposium (TCS) delegates attend a field day at the Naboisho Community Conservancy in the Maasai Mara.

Credit: David Kabiru

Right

Tusk Chairman Alex Rhodes plants a tree at the Maa Trust headquarters after a visit from TCS delegates

Credit: David Kabiru

Bottom Right

Tusk project partner representatives and symposium delegates Tessa Hempson and Dr Caleb Ofori-Boateng

Credit: David Kabiru

Below TCS 2022 delegates

Credit: David Kabiru

The impetus for our inaugural symposium held in 2017 came from Tusk’s Royal Patron, Prince William. It had become clear that each year the finalists attending the Tusk Conservation Awards were enjoying the opportunity to meet some other amazing men and women working across Africa but, more importantly, they were benefitting hugely from sharing both their challenges and solutions with each other. A decision was made to bring all of the partners together, and the symposium was born.

As an event, the symposium leverages the inherent value from all our delegates sharing their extraordinary knowledge, collective experience and sector-leading expertise. Many of our partners work in remote and challenging environments where the opportunity to meet and learn about innovative techniques and alternative ideas being implemented elsewhere may be rare. As a direct output from last year’s event, Tusk provided 19 collaboration grants for projects to travel and learn from one another, and we are looking forward to supporting the initiatives that have come out of these visits through the newly formed Collaboration Fund.

Tusk is more than just a charity or philanthropic entity; it is a powerful convenor of conservationists and friends of African conservation.

Barbara Barungi, Imara Africa

Just a huge thank you from myself, this symposium has energised and motivated me again to not only try harder but also try new ideas. It's so important to have exposure to other projects in this field and we often do not. We learn most by seeing and feeling.

Rachel

I had a lot on my plate and was considering not coming however I feel I would have regretted this decision if I didn't come. It was a fantastic programme with great learning and networking opportunities.

A big thank you to Tusk, and the Nick Maughan Foundation for supporting this gathering.

Dr

The Symposium was really cutting-edge in how holistic and thought-provoking it was, while at the same time striking a great balance between sessions, networking and field visits. Partnering with Maliasili, and the speakers as well as the amazing sessions, site visits, and conversations, and opportunities to discuss and network, really cut across all the pressing topics, ideas and challenges facing us all.

In addition, after two years of keeping our collective heads down and prevailing through the pandemic it was wonderful to see everyone, and have some wellearned laughs and chats with people I now consider friends, colleagues, mentors and inspirations. Lastly, to have it in the Mara - somewhere that's always been on my bucket list - was amazing and so great to see it and all the wonderful work being done here.

Damian Bell CEO, Honeyguide Foundation