2024-04-05-accounts - Conservation Research Africa

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period From Period start date To[Period end date ] 06 April 2023 05 April 2024 A Section A Reference and administration details Charity name Conservation Research Africa Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) ~~——~~ 1170640 Charity's principal address C/O Bat Conservation Research Lab, University of Bath,Milner Centre Bath Postcode BA7

Section A Reference and administration details

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled Trustee name Office (if any) year to appoint trustee (if any) 1 Mr Lee Stewart

2 Dr Martin Jones
3 Dr joe Nunez
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

~~<<<~~ Name Dates acted if not for whole year TAR 1 March 2024

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution Type of governing document

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted

CIO

(eg. trust, association, company)

Trustees are Appointed when necessary (e.g. when a trustee steps down Trustee selection methods or 3 years is met) by agreement at the AGM (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational
structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related
parties;
trustees’ consideration of
major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

To advance environmental protection and improvement in particular by promoting the conservation and sustainable management of flora and fauna for the benefit of the public in Africa through: Summary of the objects of the a) Applied research and management (in the fields of conservation biology; charity set out in its governing natural resources management; sustainable waste use; ecosystem document services provision; behavioural ecology; ecology; climate smart agriculture; sustainable livelihoods; human wildlife conflict resolution) to inform and promote sustainable development (sustainable development means

March 2024

TAR

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)	“development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”). b) Community education and by raising awareness to: reduce poverty; promote sustainable land management and development; reduce human wildlife conflict; reduce environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. c) Capacity building for African communities and stakeholders (through workshops, training, scholarships, and networking) in the fields of: conservation research; wildlife and natural resources management; climate change mitigation, conservation farming; climate smart agriculture and human wildlife conflict mitigation. Beneficiaries: From Local communities (farmers, teachers, school children) to Government officials (from the Departments of the Environment, Wildlife Management, Forestry and Fisheries) in Africa.
	In planning the activities for the year we have kept in mind the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit at our meetings and strategic planning discussions. The main activities are: 1. Applied research to inform conservation management of wildlife and the environment and human wildlife conflict resolution to inform and promote sustainable development and provide important data and resources for wildlife and environmental custodians in Malawi 2. Education and outreach activities around Lilongwe and Kasungu National Park to increase understanding of wildlife and environment and conservation and reduce human wildlife conflict 3. Capacity building programmes with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Lilongwe City Council to build skills in research and wildlife management These activities benefit the following people: 1. Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and Lilongwe City Council by data and reports which allow them to manage national parks and wildlife in an effective way through provision of data on animals numbers, densities, threats to wildlife, ecology of wildlife, biodiversity data and hotspot maps, enforcement plans for wildlife and biodiversity in the city 2. Local communities including women and children, who are experiencing conflict due to hyaena attacking them, eating livestock and bats occupying their homes, schools and clinics through provision of mitigation activities to provide solutions to conflict, reduce conflict or mitigate it (e.g, removal of bats from clinics, education about how to react around hyaena to reduce attacks, or mitigation to reduce livestock attacks) 3. DNPW and Lilongwe City Council through increased skills and capacity in wildlife conservation and management and reporting to the CBD through training in mapping, GIS, wildlife research and census techniques

Summary of the main activities
undertaken for the public
benefit in relation to these
objects (include within this
section the statutory
declaration that trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public benefit)

“development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”).
b) Community education and by raising awareness to: reduce poverty;
promote sustainable land management and development; reduce human
wildlife conflict; reduce environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.
c) Capacity building for African communities and stakeholders (through
workshops, training, scholarships, and networking) in the fields of:
conservation research; wildlife and natural resources management; climate
change mitigation, conservation farming; climate smart agriculture and
human wildlife conflict mitigation.
Beneficiaries: From Local communities (farmers, teachers, school children)
to Government officials (from the Departments of the Environment, Wildlife
Management, Forestry and Fisheries) in Africa.

In planning the activities for the year we have kept in mind the Charity
Commissions guidance on public benefit at our meetings and strategic
planning discussions.
The main activities are:
1.
Applied research to inform conservation management of wildlife
and the environment and human wildlife conflict resolution to inform and
promote sustainable development and provide important data and
resources for wildlife and environmental custodians in Malawi
2.
Education and outreach activities around Lilongwe and Kasungu
National Park to increase understanding of wildlife and environment and
conservation and reduce human wildlife conflict
3.
Capacity building programmes with the Department of National
Parks and Wildlife and Lilongwe City Council to build skills in research and
wildlife management
These activities benefit the following people:
1.
Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and Lilongwe
City Council by data and reports which allow them to manage national
parks and wildlife in an effective way through provision of data on animals
numbers, densities, threats to wildlife, ecology of wildlife, biodiversity data
and hotspot maps, enforcement plans for wildlife and biodiversity in the city
2.
Local communities including women and children, who are
experiencing conflict due to hyaena attacking them, eating livestock and
bats occupying their homes, schools and clinics through provision of
mitigation activities to provide solutions to conflict, reduce conflict or
mitigate it (e.g, removal of bats from clinics, education about how to react
around hyaena to reduce attacks, or mitigation to reduce livestock attacks)
3.
DNPW and Lilongwe City Council through increased skills and
capacity in wildlife conservation and management and reporting to the
CBD through training in mapping, GIS, wildlife research and census
techniques

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

March 2024

TAR

The majority of our staff continue to volunteer their time. While we have hosted some volunteers during this period, the number has remained low. Despite this, we have been able to resume some of our programs and research activities. However, our income remains affected as we have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels of student group participation. As a result, our programmes have been operating at a reduced capacity.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about: ● policy on grantmaking; ● policy programme related investment; ● contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

March 2024

TAR

Section D	Achievements andperformance	Achievements andperformance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year		RESEARCH ACTIVITIES CRA have conducted the following two research programmes: Our activities are gradually recovering, though we are still operating with reduced teams. . African Bat Conservation resumed research activities in August 2023, following a period in which the team were not operational due to a lack of funding for specific projects. Only August/September 2023 bi-monthly reports 1. *African Bat Conservation Programme* 1.1 Lilongwe bat box project: 66 bat boxes in Lilongwe have been monitored between 2023 and 2024 for bat presence to promote and monitor bats in the urban environment. This includes: 1 bat box check undertaken at Kumbali Country Lodge, Lilongwe (26 bat boxes) – No bats recorded 4 bat box checks undertaken at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, Lilongwe (30 bat boxes) – No bats recorded 3 bat box checks undertaken at Barefoot Lodge and Safaris, Lilongwe (10 bat boxes) – No bats recorded 1.2 Kuti bat box project: 25 bat boxes in Kuti Wildlife Reserve have been monitored between 2023 and 2024 for bat presence to promote and monitor bats in the reserve. This includes 3 bat box checks. Bats were present in 4/25 (16%) boxes on check 1, 6/25 (24%) boxes on check 2, and 8/25 (32%) boxes on check 3. 1.3 Bats and Biodiversity Research Project: CRA have conducted 25 bat mist netting and harp trapping surveys, 18 of which were conducted in Lilongwe and 7 of which were conducted in Kuti Wildlife Reserve. 155 bats captured during surveys, comprising 18 confirmed species. 52 wing punch biopsies collected from bats during trapping surveys 4 hair samples collected from bats during trapping surveys 12 faecal samples collected from bats during trapping surveys 23 parasites collected from bats during trapping surveys 1.4 Straw-coloured fruit bat roost monitoring: 13 count surveys of_Eidolon helvum_undertaken at Maula Parish in Lilongwe. 53 trees monitored for roosting bats, including 8 newly identified occupied trees A high of 6618 roosting bats counted during count surveys. 406 faecal samples collected from underneath roosting bats during count surveys 1.5 Bat Roost Surveys: 3 new bat roosts identified 4 roosts (3 new and 1 known) regularly monitored and surveyed in Lilongwe city 4 emergence surveys

March 2024

TAR

Section D Achievements and erformance p

2.0 Carnivore Research Malawi Programme

2.1 Assessing boldness and stress in spotted hyaena Project: 2 Wariness tests completed with Urban hyaena clans 2 Neophobia tests completed with Urban hyaena clans 2 Behaviour experiments completed with Urban hyaena clans

7 habituation nights performed (1 in Lilongwe and 6 in Kasungu National Park) Faecal samples collected from 4 different hyaenas from Urban clans Hair samples collected from 4 different hyaenas from Urban clans Blood samples collected from 4 different hyaenas from Urban clans 1 Potential Behaviour experiment site identified in Kasungu National Park 1 Potential Immobilisation site identified in Kasungu National Park 1 new Urban hyaena clan identified

Urban Carnivore Research Project Lilongwe:

7 spotted hyaena den sites monitored each month

1852 camera trapping survey nights completed at dens 34685 camera trap photos processed 1711 Hyaena pictures recorded by camera traps

8 conflict mitigation visits were done in local communities, and given advice and capacity building for living safely with large carnivores 17 facilitators active taking part on the helpline programme

Peer reviewed papers published this year: None

1. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

The following outreach events have been conducted in Malawi:

● Outreach stalls were held with education materials about bats conservations at the 4 farmers markets in Lilongwe city ● Regular Outreach, Education and Speaking on the Importance of Urban Wildlife Including Spotted Hyaena at Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR AFRICAN STAKEHOLDERS :

● We conducted 1 training workshop with partners from DNPW, training a total of 19 rangers on camera trapping.

March 2024

TAR

Section D Achievements and erformance p

March 2024

TAR

Section E Financial review ~~a~~

Cash at bank 04/5/2024 £3409.57 in unrestricted funds. Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves Details of any funds materially N/A in deficit Further financial review details (Optional information) Principal funds are derived from volunteer donations and income from You may choose to include running expeditions for school, university, and citizen science groups. additional information, where Additionally, we occasionally receive funding from conservation relevant about: organizations that support specific projects. All expenditure has been ● the charity’s principal spent on delivering the charity’s objectives in Malawi, focusing on sources of funds (including any research, outreach, and capacity building.

the charity’s principal
sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has
supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and
objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration ~~|~~ The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Dr Martin Jones Full name(s) Dr Emma Stone ~~ee~~ Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) ~~a~~ CEO/ Founder Trustee Date 04/05/2024 ~~|~~

March 2024

TAR

CC16a

Charity Name No (if any) Conservation Research Africa Receipts and payments accounts For the period Period start date Period end date To from 05/04/2023 06/04/2024 ~~ee ee ee~~

Section A Receipts and payments

	Unrestricted funds	Unrestricted		Restricted funds	Endowment funds	Total funds	Last year
	to the nearest £	to the nearest £	to the nearest £	to the nearest £	to the nearest £	to the nearest £	to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Volunteer Donations cash and bank	27948			-	-	27,948	-
				-	-	-	-
Grant Income charitabe acivities		0		5,369	-	5,369	-
					-	-	-
				-	-	-	-
				-	-	-	-
				-	-	-	-
	-	-		-	-	-	-

Sub total (Gross income for AR) 27,948 5,369 - 33,317 - A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). Sale of nissan and trailer 6,709 - - 6,709 - - - - - ~~Sub total~~ 6,709 - - 6,709 - Total receipts 34,657 5,369 - 40,026 - ~~Seee=~~ A3 Payments 201-Advertising, PR 0 - 202-Bank Charges 416 - 203 - Capacity building 916 - 204 - Conference costs 0 - 205 - Client entertainment 115 206-Equipment / Supplies Camp 548 207 -Equipment Camp Maintenance/Repair 88 208-Equipment Research 8699 209-Equipment Research Maintenance/Repair 44 210 -Equipment Computing 693 211 -Education costs 621 212-Fuel 3508 213-Internet 637 214 -Meeting Costs - Community Outreach 25 215 -Meeting Costs - Funders/Clients/Partners 74 216 -Professional Fees 80 217-Staff Salaries 12122 218 -Staff Accommodation 313 219 -Staff visa fees 569 220 -Stationary/printing Research 61 221 - Stationary/printing Outreach 7 222-Travel - Staff National (Non project vehicle) 255 223 -Travel - Staff International 102 224-Telephone 8 225 -Uniforms Staff (T-Shirts/Shoes etc) 76 226-Vehicle repair 3115 227-Vehicle running costs 797 228 - Vol accommodation 295 229-Vol food 1624 230-Vol phone 78 231-Vol travel 0 232 -Veterinary Expenses 739 233 - Website 0 234 - Insurance 61 235 - Mvuu 0 236-Misc 375 237-Office Stationery 18 238-Office Rent 1118 - 239 - Office Utilities 0 - 240 - Office ImCCXX R1 accounts (SS)provements ~~ut~~ 1 27 18/11/2025 -

241 - Office Maintenace		-	- -	0	-
242 - Office Equipment		-		54	-
243 - Office Security		-	-	20	-
244 - Office Supplies
245-Capital Grant Expenditure
246-Lab Costs	-	-	-	93
	-	-	-	-
**Sub total **	-	-	-	41,901	-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
			-	41,901	-

			-	40,026	-
	-		- -		-
				4,765	-
	-		-	3,410	-

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

18/11/2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

				Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
	Categories	Details		funds funds funds
				to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds		- - - - - - - - 3,410 - - Cash in bank *Total cash funds* ~~—===~~
		(agree balances with receipts and payments	(agree balances with receipts and payments
		account(s))		Agreement Error OK OK
				Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
				funds funds funds
		Details		to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets		- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~~=====~~
B3 Investment assets		Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) - - - - - Details ~~==~~
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use		Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Landcriuser Troopy Details Nissan Pick Up ~~====~~
				Fund to which Amount due When due
B5 Liabilities		liability relates (optional) (optional) - - - - - Details ~~Se~~
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all	Signature		Date of approval Print Name
				20/04/2024 Martin Jones
CCXX R3 accounts (SS)	CCXX R3 accounts (SS)	~~3~~		~~18/11/2025~~

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ members of	Charity Name Conservation Research Africa

On accounts for the year	05/04/2024		Charity no	1170640
ended			(if any)

Set out on pages	1-2
		(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)		(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 04/05/2024

Responsibilties and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent
examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Date: 20/4/2024 Name: Mrs Donna Kenny Relevant professional N/A qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 21 Barberry Farm Road, Yatton, BS49 4QY

Oct 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

N/A

Oct 2018

IER