African Wildlife & Environment Issue 80

GENERAL

Dr John Ledger EDITORIAL The year 1990 was very significant in the history of South Africa, because Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in prison, and the journey to democracy was initiated in earnest, resulting in the first fully democratic South African election in 1994. For wildlife and environmental conservation, 1990 was also significant because the Mazda Wildlife Fund was created in that year. This was the first time that a leading automotive company had committed itself to supporting conservation by providing vehicles for the use of research, education and wildlife management personnel associated with the non-government sector in southern Africa.

In 2014 Ford and Mazda parted ways, and the latter set up its own independent operation in South Africa with a capital injection of R150 million from the parent company in Japan. There was a lot of concern among the conservation community that the Mazda Wildlife Fund would disappear from the scene, which would have been a major blow to conservation and to all the project executants who relied on their sponsored vehicles. After much debate, discussion and negotiation, which involved the Ford head office in Dearborn, Michigan, the Ford Wildlife Foundation was born, to continue the pioneering efforts of the MWF. This involved a lot of work and a lot of money, as Ford started reviewing all of the MWF projects and deciding how to convert the branding of this exceptional programme to the 'Blue Oval'. Many of the Mazdas were donated to the NGOs that were using them, and the 'flagship projects' were provided with brand new Ford Rangers, most often the 4 x 4 double cab versions, splendid vehicles indeed and an incredibly valuable contribution to conservation. In this landmark 80 th edition of African Wildlife and Environment magazine, we are delighted and honoured to present the first Ford Wildlife Foundation Newsletter, which you will find on page 7. The Foundation is supporting an astonishing 28 projects of incredible diversity all over South Africa. The financial value of this contribution is literally worth a fortune to the environmental conservation community, who would otherwise have to raise the funds from donors to provide vehicles for their personnel. I am sure all our readers will join me in congratulating and thanking the Ford Motor Company of South Africa for their magnificent support for the many important wildlife, environmental and educational projects that benefit from the use of Ford Rangers. And may many of us reciprocate this appreciation when we buy our next car or bakkie! The Editorial Team wishes all our readers the very best for the Festive Season, and peace, health and safety in the NewYear. Dr John Ledger Consulting Editor john.ledger@wol.co.za 083 650 1768

The MWF had identified a special niche in the market where its products could be used for the good of the environment. Reliable transport is the key requirement for virtually every project, to get researchers into the field, to get educators to their target audiences, and to translocate rare and endangered species to new habitats.With an off-road vehicle often being the most expensive item on a conservation project, the contribution of the MWF vehicles was of enormous value to conservation. The history of the South African automotive industry is interesting, although rather convoluted and influenced by politics. The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In 1923 Ford set up an operation in South Africa, and the following year the assembly of Model T Fords commenced in a disused woolshed in Port Elizabeth, making Ford the first automobile manufacturer in the country. An assembly plant in Silverton near Pretoria was opened in 1967. Ford and the Sigma Motor Corporation (which at that time belonged to Anglo American and produced Mazda models for the local market) founded the South African Motor Corporation (Samcor) in 1985. Samcor produced car and commercial vehicle models of both the Ford and Mazda brands. In 1988, Ford withdrew from South Africa for economic and political reasons. With the renewed takeover of Samcor shares (45%) in that historical year of 1994, Ford returned to South Africa. In 2000 Ford took over the majority of the Samcor shares, which became the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. Mazda and Ford were marketed as different brands, although in many cases they were the same vehicles with different badges! The Mazda Wildlife Fund was seen as being strongly identified with the Mazda brand. The MWF established an Advisory Board with representatives from the major conservation NGOs, and I was honoured to be a member (representing the EWT) from the start in 1990, together with colleagues from WESSA,WWF-SA, the Botanical Society and the Rhino and Elephant Foundation.

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