2023-03-31-accounts

Company registration number: 11632911 Charity registration number: 1183328

Connected Conservation Foundation

(A company limited by guarantee)

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Stewart & Co Accountants LLP Knoll House Knoll Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3SY

Connected Conservation Foundation

Contents

Trustees' Report	1 to 27
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities	28
Independent Examiner's Report	29
Statement of Financial Activities	30
Balance Sheet	31
Notes to the Financial Statements	32 to 41

Connected Conservation Foundation

Trustees' Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Reference and Administrative Details

Trustees and officers

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Trustees: Mr D D Ward Mr A L Rhodes Mr J E M Baille Mr B Watson Charity Registration Number: 1183328 Company Registration Number: 11632911 Registered Office: 13 St Luke's Street Chelsea London SW3 3RS Independent Examiner: Stewart & Co Accountants LLP Knoll House Knoll Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3SY

Objectives and activities

Objects of the charity

The charity's objects, as set out in its Articles of Association, are

• To promote, for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of wildlife, in particular but not exclusively through the development and application of innovative technology; and

• Such other purposes, determined by the trustees, at their sole discretion as are exclusively charitable under the laws of England and Wales.

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Aims of the charity

Earth's biodiversity is facing a perilous global crisis. The intricate web of life, encompassing diverse species and their interactions with the environment, is unraveling. Human-induced factors have triggered the onset of the sixth mass extinction event.

The latest findings from the WWF Living Planet Report 2022 underscore the severity of the situation, revealing 1 a staggering 69% decline in global wildlife populations since 1970 . More than half of land ecosystems are now grappling with critically low species diversity. This alarming trend serves as a stark warning, signaling that we stand at a crucial tipping point that demands immediate reversal. We all need nature, fresh water, clean air, plants and animals for food. We are all part of our planet’s ecosystems - where continued biodiversity loss impacts our health, livelihoods and global economies.

Immediate global intervention is imperative, and in December 2022,196 countries agreed to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 (30x30). To fulfill this commitment, firstly we must safeguard existing intact ecosystems, and then restore degraded land. The pivotal role of technology cannot be overstated in helping countries and conservation stakeholders achieve 30x30 targets.

The Connected Conservation Foundation (CCF) is committed to assisting local collaborators in leveraging technology to protect and monitor wildlife and natural ecosystems, alongside empowering community-led conservation efforts through our dedicated initiatives.

CCF joins the capabilities of technology companies, donors and local conservationists, mobilising public and private partners to transform conservation together to tackle extinction-drivers. We help protected areas secure and use the right technologies to stop poaching, prevent human-wildlife conflict, reduce habitat loss and sustainably manage natural resources for both wildlife and local people.

Our projects support field teams working in some of the most hostile and untamed regions, equipping protected areas with digital tools and connecting 5,600,000 hectares across 29 conservancies in Kenya, South Africa and Zambia. Our work supports the restoration and protection of over 35 threatened species, including black and white rhinos, African elephants, pangolins, leopards, lions, hippos, cheetahs, wild dogs, hirola, brown hyenas, and the southern ground hornbill.

By 2030, through technology, we aspire to protect 10 million hectares of habitat, conserve over 50+ threatened species, and enhance the livelihoods of local people living in and around conservancies.

CCF contributes to the following UN Sustainable Develop Goals:

4: Life on Land. We help local partners manage and protect an array of threatened species and habitats. Where technology gives an early warning of threats and issues to prevent wildlife deaths, habitat loss and promote a healthy coexistence between nature and local communities, so both can thrive.

13:Climate action. Strengthening resilient ecosystems, where technology helps stakeholders manage habitats and natural resources sustainability, particularly in climate-stressed areas. Where healthy vegetation and soil removes CO2 from our climate.

15: Quality education. Increasing training and opportunities for local people to grow their digital skills and technical capabilities.

16: Peace and Justice. Bringing peace and security to local communities and those at the forefront of nature protection, to keep them safe.

1 WWF’s Living Planet Report (2022)

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Our solutions

Since 2015, the Connected Conservation initiative has worked to harness the collective capabilities of technology companies Cisco, Dimension Data, Airbus Foundation, Actility and Microsoft to deliver impactful conservation technology solutions to local conservation partners across Africa. Excitingly, our initiative is now broadening its horizons, extending this support to new partners in Thailand, Namibia and Papua New Guinea.

CCF addresses diverse technological needs within parks, ranging from providing basic but vital internet connectivity at reserve headquarters, to establishing landscape-wide communications and connectivity networks across vast, remote areas. Our involvement spans from monitoring entire conservancies with high-resolution satellite imagery, to deploying advanced proactive solutions that utilise on-the-ground sensors and cameras to pre-emptively detect and mitigate threats.

This range of both basic and cutting-edge technologies empower conservation managers to monitor people, rangers, visitors, vehicles, natural resources and wildlife. Where real-time data flows into a central operations room, providing rangers with round-the-clock visibility of everything happening across a conservancy, giving them early warning of conservation issues to facilitate a swift response.

This technology enables our partner’s conservation teams to multiply their capacity, save costs and increase the speed of decision-making and response, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of protected area management.

While the conservation technology sector continues to evolve with integrated tools and services, the operational capabilities and technical maturity of protected areas vary widely. CCF not only contributes donated technology solutions, but aids sites to choose appropriate tools, develop sustainable technical capabilities, and design infrastructure tailored to their distinctive challenges. We facilitate support to field teams in planning, acquiring and implementing landscape-scale solutions that deliver profound impacts for conservation management, protection and community coexistence.

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Conservation challenges we seek to address

1. Protecting species and delivering peace and security across conservancies

The Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) threatens many endangered species. Africa’s large mammals, particularly rhinos and elephants, are under threat from poaching. We must halt this illegal activity as these animals are crucial biodiversity and ecological drivers, creating habitats for other species, catalysing opportunities for nature-based economies and local employment and inspiring restoration and rewilding programmes.

Whilst African authorities have estimated around 23,290 rhinos across the continent at the end of 20222 - 5.2% more than in 2021 - at least 561 rhinos were still illegally poached during 2022. For the first time in a decade, rhino numbers are moving in the right direction. So we must not drop our guard but further restore and build upon this positive development.

Additionally, commercial bushmeat poaching continues to affect rare and endangered wildlife. In the DRC, bushmeat poachers can earn significant income in a country where most live on less than $2.15 per day. A 20223 study in Maniema province revealed porters paying hunters around $4.70 for small monkeys and $4 for duikers, with potential earnings of $25 for transporting loads to Kindu. On the other hand, capturing a baby bonobo can yield as much as $450.

Furthermore, around 150 rangers worldwide die each year protecting wildlife, with poacher conflicts responsible for 50% to 70% of ranger deaths on the job4. IWT also impacts livelihoods. The loss of flagship and iconic species threatens local wildlife-based economies dependent on tourists seeking experiences with majestic species.5

2 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2023). "African Rhino Numbers Are Increasing Despite Poaching." Press Release. Retrieved from https://www.iucn.org/press-release/202309/african-rhino-numbers-are-increasing-despite-poaching

3 Hart, J. A., Omene, O., & Hart, T. B. (2022). Vouchers control for illegal bushmeat transport and reveal dynamics of authorized wild meat trade in central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). African Journal of Ecology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12965

4 The Thin Green Line Foundation [online] Viewed 01 Aug, 2022

5 Greg L. Warchol (2004) The Transnational Illegal Wildlife Trade, Criminal Justice Studies, 17:1, 57-73, DOI: 10.1080/08884310420001679334

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2. Improving coexistence between humans and wildlife

As human populations grow and space for nature decreases, human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is now a critical global challenge. Today, species such as elephants, lions and hyenas increasingly share habitats with local communities, leading to human and wildlife casualties, property and crop damage, and a substantial rise in livestock predation. A single incident of livestock predation can result in the loss of up to two-thirds of a household's annual income8.

Competition for grazing and water resources between wildlife and local communities is on the rise, with 6 competition anticipated to intensify as the global impacts of climate change become more pronounced .

The expansion of human settlements and farmland is also increasingly coming into conflict with wildlife, exemplified by the issue of landscape fragmentation. South Africa witnesses a tragic annual loss of between 1,000 and 2,000 pangolins due to electric fence-related electrocutions7, which dwarfs the estimated 50-100 pangolins trafficked.

What often hinders effective resolution in such situations is the absence of data pinpointing the nature and location of these issues to prevent conflicts. Habitat mapping and early-warning technologies can empower conservation organisations to gather essential data, allowing communities to proactively predict the flow of wildlife through landscape and pre-empt HWC events.

6 Abrahms, B. (2021). Human-wildlife conflict under climate change. Science, 373(6554), DOI: 10.1126/science.abj4216.

7 Pietersen, Darren. (2022). Body Size, Defensive Behaviour, and Season Influence Mortality Probability in Wildlife Interactions with Electrified Fences. African Journal of Wildlife Research. 52. 10.3957/056.052.0172.

8 Dickman, A. J., Macdonald, E. A., & Macdonald, D. W. (2011). A review of financial instruments to pay for predator conservation and encourage human-carnivore coexistence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(34), 13937-13944. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1012972108

3. Restoring healthy habitats and resilient ecosystems

Ecosystems support all life on Earth, yet increasing land-use change for agriculture and climate-change driven drought is damaging the health and viability of forests, grasslands and savannas. With only 15% of the Earth's landmass currently protected, 196 countries have agreed to protect 30% of the planet by 2030.

Technologies are vital in helping countries achieve these 30x30 goals as they offer an up-to-date understanding of the integrity of protected areas. Additionally they assist management activities to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation, restore natural processes that remove Co2 from the climate, create suitable habitats for endangered species, whilst sustaining water, soil and vegetation for local people.

By making environmental monitoring technologies available (including high-resolution satellite imagery and network sensors), conservationists can monitor and manage the health of natural ecosystems. Satellite imagery makes it possible to measure changes on the earth’s surface and understand ecosystem dynamics, which may range from the rapid detection of deforestation to locating endangered species in hard-to-reach areas and other human activities changing the landscape.

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4. Developing technical capacity to sustain technologies

Technology is a big multiplier, offering substantial leaps forward, but achieving lasting success hinges on the proficient use of these tools by local practitioners. However, disparities in technical expertise and a lack of awareness about suitable technologies can impede effective use. CCF firmly believes that investment in the technical education of field partners is paramount to ensuring long-term benefits of technology beyond the initial implementation phase. CCF collaborates with technology companies and local organisations in-country, to provide technical support, skills and capabilities, for the successful adoption of tools.

Objectives, Strategies and Activities

To address these challenges, we aim to:

1. Make effective technology and real-time intelligence available to conservation teams at the forefront of environmental protection and aid them to pre-empt, manage and mitigate conservation and climate challenges.

2. Provide education and ongoing training and support to build local technical capacity and ensure technologies are locally and effectively managed.

3. Foster trust and collaboration across local partners, conservationists, technologists and academia to accelerate the implementation of appropriate technologies.

4. Catalyse investment and accelerate sustainable technology solutions to scale long-lasting conservation impact.

5. Be conservation-led and governed by a robust technology impact measurement framework to ensure multi-partner investments consistently deliver target conservation outcomes.

Our activities span ongoing work to equip conservation teams with a full range of conservation technologies in 9 protected areas, whilst bringing connectivity and communications to a further 20.

In these regions, communication systems, network connectivity, satellite imagery and sensing devices are playing a pivotal role in supporting a spectrum of conservation endeavors. These range from thwarting rhino poaching in South Africa; to combating illegal fishing in Zambia; space-based monitoring of wildlife and ecosystems to manage resources amid severe drought in Kenya; and improving wildlife and community co-existence across partner sites.

In our commitment to biodiversity-important Protected Areas, we actively assist in designing and procuring technologies tailored to each site's specific needs and challenges. We also work hard to fundraise to support the adoption of proven technologies, amplifying their conservation impact.

CCF’s main activities against these objectives within the period:

1. Catalyse investments and resources from technology companies and donors for conservation.

2. Improve monitoring and management of species and their habitats using high resolution satellite imagery

3. Use satellite data to define and lobby for a new Protected Area in Northern Kenya for the Lorian Ecosystem

4. Extending Africa’s largest IoT conservation network with Northern Rangelands Trust providing additional connectivity to 20 community-led conservancies

5. Equip vital connectivity to Park HQs across African Parks’ 14 sites

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1. Tackle rhino poaching in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, with LoRaWan technologies, network, data management and sensors

2. Advance our impact assessment framework for conservation technologies.

3. Sustain existing CCF supported technology solutions in historical partner sites

4. Bring technology innovation to the ground, for real-world testing against conservation outcomes

5. Develop new partnerships and a refreshed CCF strategy

6. Grow global awareness of CCF

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For this reporting period the main activities undertaken include:

1. Catalyse investments and resources from technology companies and donors for conservation.

CCF has strong partnerships with technology companies Cisco, Dimension Data and Airbus Foundation, where these companies donate equipment, engineering, cloud services, data and associated software licensing.

CCF has facilitated technology-focused donations to the value of:

• 2021 - 2022 - £1,700,000 (£1,600,000 equipment, £90,000 satellite data, £10,000 services)

• 2022 - 2023 - £900,000 (£740,000 equipment, £85,000 satellite data, £75,000 services)

CCF has engaged with our technology and local partners to understand conservation challenges, form the requirements, scope the solution technologies, secure and ship the tools to site, and assist field practitioners with the implementation of equipment and long-term technical support.

These technology-focused donations are made direct to our field partners, where CCF also sits as a nexus point in the middle of all partnerships to write and manage all the legal agreements. These donations are extremely valuable to field-practitioners, where the tools multiply their capacity and enhance their conservation impacts.

After successfully securing a technology donation, CCF diligently engages in catalysing additional matched-funding for our local conservation partners. The realization of these collaborative projects requires a comprehensive package of support. The donations obtained, coupled with the collaborative momentum that CCF generates, have enabled all the projects outlined in this report.

2. Improve monitoring and management of species and their habitats using high resolution satellite imagery.

The Airbus Foundation and the Connected Conservation Foundation (CCF) have forged a powerful partnership to confront the ongoing extinction crisis, harnessing the capabilities of Airbus Defence and Space satellite imagery to empower frontline defenders of nature.

Satellite imagery has ushered in a new era for conservation efforts, providing an unprecedented level of detail that allows scientists and conservationists to closely monitor and comprehend the health of invaluable ecosystems like never before. Serving as a vital tool, it is helping detect deforestation, tracking illegal activities and monitoring wildlife populations in hard-to-reach areas.

During this period, our collaboration launched the 'Satellites for Biodiversity' global grant award, aimed at accelerating the use of high-resolution satellite imagery for biodiversity conservation. This grant received global interest with a wealth of applications, where seven transformational projects have been selected.

During the next period, three winners and four runners-up of this grant will be awarded exclusive access to the most advanced optical satellite imagery, boasting an impressive 30cm spatial resolution from Airbus Pléiades Neo and 50cm from Pléiades. Then additionally the top three winners will receive $5,000 USD in financial support from CCF, access to Airbus' Archive Library upon request, and complimentary ESRI software and cloud service support.

The selected winning projects, include:

The Asian Institute of Technology, which is leveraging AI and high-resolution satellite data to map buffer zones to inform local conservation management of the Asian Elephant habitat in Thailand's Sai Yok National Park.

The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP), will assist local communities in using satellite data to protect essential habitats for the endangered Matschie's tree kangaroo, Eastern long-beaked echidna, and nearly 5,000 fauna and flora species in Papua New Guinea's YUS Conservation Area.

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The Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA), will focus on predicting and preventing human-elephant conflicts between Namibia's desert elephants, communities and local farmers.

Four runners-up working in the Masai Mara in Kenya, have also been selected to establish a 'Masai Mara Satellite Sandbox.' This initiative will contribute to the protection of giant pangolins, mapping invasive species, enhancing wildlife connectivity and delineating land boundaries for deploying geo-fences for elephant trackers to mitigate the escalating human-wildlife conflict.

3. Use satellite data to define and lobby for a new Protected Area in Northern Kenya for the Lorian Ecosystem

In the heart of Kenya, a remarkable conservation initiative is making waves. Aiming to restore the delicate balance of life from Marsabit to Meru, the Lorian Swamp holds a pivotal role in maintaining ecological connectivity across this unique landscape. Led by the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), this five-year project sets out to transform conservation of this important landscape and foster coexistence between people and wildlife.

1900km2 of donated Pléiades 50cm imagery from the Airbus Foundation, through CCF, is assisting the team in monitoring and mapping wildlife corridors and identifying vegetation types. The detail in this fine resolution imagery is enabling NRT researchers to develop more informed plans and conservation activities to deal with evolving climate-driven events and changing natural resources. Like understanding hydrology channels and human settlements and mapping the impact of invasive species - specifically species like Prosopis juliflora, which is a risk to biodiversity and livelihoods. Due to their seed pods containing high-sugar content, they are very potent to livestock, causing dental issues and death. By enabling NRT to observe and map these ecosystem dynamics, they can plan and execute management strategies.

Additionally, governmental agencies, including the National Museums of Kenya, Kenyatta University, and the Kenya Wildlife Service, will work with NRT to use this imagery to plan the mitigation of human-wildlife conflict occurrences between elephants, lions, and local communities.

Lastly and importantly, this satellite imagery is helping define and plan for the designation of four new conservancies, supporting conservancy management plans submitted by the Kenya Wildlife Service, for the designation of these biodiversity hotspots as Protected Areas. Data collected on Lorian Swamp will provide a baseline to measure ecosystem recovery over the next ten years for NRT and NRT’s partners' conservation projects.

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4. Extending Africa’s largest IoT conservation network with Northern Rangelands Trust providing additional connectivity to 20 community-led conservancies

Working with private and public partners, we have collaborated to support Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) in Kenya, facilitating the connection of multiple conservancies and the establishment of one of the largest LoRaWan conservation networks in Africa.

Furthering the LoRaWan network (originating from Phase 1 in Lewa), we connected 20 new NRT community-led conservancies in this fiscal year. The network now spans a vast climate-stressed region, totalling over 3,000,000 ha, home to a diverse array of threatened species where over 100,000 households coexist with wildlife.

A new era of IoT conservation sensors

Twenty LoRaWan gateways and shared network infrastructure facilitate the swift onboarding and deployment of over 200 sensors that enable the transmission of real-time wildlife and environmental data across vast distances to a central control room. This provides conservation managers with invaluable situational awareness, accessible through EarthRanger.

The project has introduced innovative methods for rhino population monitoring and has facilitated the removal of fences between conservancies, fostering larger, interconnected habitats where rhinos can roam safely. This approach aids in halting poaching, sharing information on vulnerabilities, strengthening conservation management strategies and enabling conservancies to share security response teams.

Managing and verifying natural resources

2022 saw extreme drought in East Africa, sweeping away grasslands, water, local food and animals. NRT has huge challenges to sustainably manage its natural resources and to pre-empt and reduce human and wildlife conflict. This IoT network has supported the deployment of livestock tracking and environmental monitoring sensors, allowing communities and field teams to implement rotational grazing strategies and observe water levels that have been threatening the success of human-wildlife coexistence.

Connectivity for improved livelihoods

This backbone network is also empowering local women by providing connectivity for data collection and analysis on wildlife movements, habitat activities and reporting crime-related activities.

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5. Equip vital connectivity to Park HQs across African Parks’ 14 sites

CCF, with our partner Cisco, have helped African Parks enable reliable, well managed internet connectivity across all 14 Park Headquarters in eight African countries including Bazaruto, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Zambia. This achievement is crucial for enhancing conservation operations, wildlife management and fostering harmonious coexistence in remote regions.

With the donation and deployment of 14 of the 24 Meraki router devices so far, the collaboration has empowered African Parks with an enterprise-level IT solution to efficiently manage connectivity and operations. This has proven invaluable in ensuring the safety and well-being of both staff and local communities, particularly in regions where tribal conflicts and other challenges create unpredictable environments.

African Parks can now remotely manage the use of bandwidth in each park from a centralised location, enabling the team to prioritise and block unauthorized use and traffic flows, ensuring dedicating bandwidth exclusively to vital conservation work.

With a reliable and stable internet connection, local teams can operate valuable services and programs via the cloud. Improving the wide use of EarthRanger and Cloud storage services, effectively eliminating obstacles to storing, sharing and analysing data, imperative to conservation and security operations.

Moreover, the five-year donation of advanced license support from Cisco has relieved African Parks of financial burdens and granted them access to Cisco's support team. This support has proven invaluable, as it has enabled the prompt repair and replacement of faulty items. This is a level of service typically beyond the financial reach of African Parks. This ensures the long-term sustainability and health of Meraki devices and connectivity.

African Parks are local leaders on delivering key infrastructure and services to some of the remotest regions in Africa - from roads to water and electricity. CCF are happy to help African Parks add vital internet connectivity to their digital infrastructure provision in some of the world’s wildest areas, helping create more stable conditions for people and wildlife to thrive.

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6. Tackle rhino poaching in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, with LoRaWan technologies, network, data management and sensors

The Madikwe Game Reserve, stretching across an expansive 750 square kilometers, stands as a beacon of hope in South Africa's conservation history. Landscapes and wildlife populations have been restored at scale, helping populations of white and black rhino, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, African wild dogs, and more than 400 avian species to bounce back. Fragmented farmlands have been united, fences removed and invasive vegetation curbed, allowing grasslands and their species to reflourish. The reserve has over 30 lodges devoted to tourism, generating over 1,000 employment opportunities.

Yet, this monumental achievement is under imminent threat from rhino poaching. Madikwe shelters both white and black rhinos, rendering them susceptible to ruthless poachers. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. A mere 6,487 black rhinos remain in all of Africa9, and South Africa grapples with profound poaching losses, recording 231 rhinos poached in the initial six months of 2023 alone9. Madikwe’s rhinos are repeatedly targeted by poachers.

CCF joined forces with Madikwe Futures in 2021 to help safeguard these majestic creatures. In 2021-2022 CCF donated essential thermal cameras that were strategically placed along the reserve's perimeter to monitor known poaching entry and exit routes. Poachers attempting to enter the reserve were swiftly detected, and their activities were thwarted. During the period 2022-23, the team continues to report zero activity from poachers within the vicinity of the cameras, confirming long-term deterrent effects. Furthermore, recent new use-cases of the thermal cameras have included helping detect the location and direction of felt fires.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, CCF's sustained collaboration with Madikwe Futures to establish a LoRaWAN network across the areas of the parks at risk from poaching. CCF additionally extended financial support for the acquisition of LoRa-enabled sensing devices, encompassing fence sensors, vehicle and ranger trackers.

This system facilitates real-time tracking of security teams, rangers, staff and eventually tourists. This capability enhances monitoring for suspicious behavior, aiding in the identification of individuals who may be assisting poachers. The trackers significantly elevate the team's responsiveness to conservation issues by providing situational awareness of all field rangers. This, in turn, allows for command and control to swiftly deploy the nearest resources to address potential threats.

Longer-term, the accumulated tracking data will undergo analysis to unveil movement patterns, identify high-risk areas and optimise patrol routes. This data-driven approach will empower Madikwe to make informed decisions, ultimately enhancing their conservation strategies and resource allocation.

Recent technological strides by Madikwe Futures have yielded several success stories, most notably the successful capture and arrest of known poachers. This achievement has significantly bolstered security, not only within the reserve but also in the adjacent local communities where crime and conflict stemming from the same poaching syndicates have surged. The elimination of these criminals is translating into a tangible reduction in rhino deaths within Madikwe, concurrently fostering a more tranquil environment for local residents. This, in turn, contributes to improved livelihoods and overall well-being for the community.

Madikwe is an unconnected landscape where there is only cell phone signal near community areas. To help communication, CCF has provided Push-To-Talk (PTT) Iridium Satellite phones for Madikwe’s frontline rangers, helping them communicate efficiently and collaborate closely from anywhere. Madikwe reports that the phones are always crystal clear and have been paramount when communicating in and outside the reserve in tracking suspect poaching vehicles. CCF is happy to support Madikwe Game Reserve in protecting its wildlife and see it thrive as a vital conservation and ecological hub.

9 International Rhino Foundation. (2023). State of the Rhino. Retrieved from

https://rhinos.org/about-rhinos/state-of-the-rhino/#:~:text=On%20September%2021%2C%202023%2C%20the,species%20in%20over%

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7. Advance our impact assessment framework for conservation technologies.

In our ongoing efforts to drive effective conservation technologies, one significant hurdle we've encountered is the absence of a robust evaluation framework to gauge the impact of technology within a conservation context. At CCF, we have recognised the critical need for a comprehensive Impact Measurement Framework for Conservation Technologies to accomplish the following:

1. Demonstrate value: assist protected area managers in showcasing the tangible benefits of technology, enabling them to make a compelling case for implementing the right tools and securing funding.

2. Ensure efficacy: guarantee that technology interventions deliver the intended conservation benefits. Showing evidence that technology has improved management effectiveness.

3. Optimise resource use: prevent the wastage of cost, time and resources while reducing the reporting burden on ranger teams.

In Phase 1 of this project, CCF collaborated with impact measurement experts Conservation Alpha, along with a consortium of conservation experts, NGOs and technology companies to lay the groundwork for this framework. This initial phase focused on defining an overarching taxonomy and shaping the framework's early iterations. We categorised the desired management outcomes, grouped the technologies to achieve them and listed the indicators to measure the technology's performance in different contexts.

Toward the end of the period, we embarked on Phase 2, working in close partnership with the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve (SSNR) in South Africa to validate, test and refine our framework by applying it to real-world interventions and use-cases across the reserve. Technologies were assessed against initial indicators including the accuracy of early threat detection, the speed of information relay for management decisions and the quality and reliability of information for informed action. SSNR’s advanced digital infrastructure, connectivity, wide range of deployed sensors and wealth of data on incidents and technology activity, provides an ideal testbed for our framework.

With new funding, our ultimate goal is to test and refine the impact framework across enough sample sites and refine it for further use cases, so it can adapt to various geographies, challenges and conservation strategies. Once complete, this framework will be shared openly with the conservation community to ensure all conservation technology practitioners can benefit, to help shape, develop and deploy impactful solutions.

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8. Sustain existing CCF supported technology solutions in historical partner sites

Through 2022-2023, Connected Conservation Foundation’s local engineer partners in Dimension Data have continued working across field projects to assist with the maintenance and administration of technology solutions that are now progressing into their second and third phases.

CCF and partners have provided essential support to field teams throughout the period. A notable example includes supporting a unique platform for sensor integrations, a critical component that ensures data can be transferred from the field into EarthRanger for visualisation. This ongoing collaboration helps teams quickly comprehend the value of newly installed sensors for conservation purposes. Helping all parks manage the recent proliferation of LoRaWan sensors, which has led many of our partners to adopt new monitoring methods.

9. Bring technology innovation to the ground, for real-world testing against conservation outcomes

Our commitment to technological innovation is grounded in practical evaluation and testing of new conservation technologies against real-world conservation scenarios and target outcomes.

In collaboration with 51 Degrees, Dimension Data, and our field partners, trials include testing of an array of innovative new LoRa enabled-sensors for security, monitoring and improved operations. These trials have been instrumental in deployment of effective low-cost, low-power sensors across protected areas. New additions include tracking of livestock movements and environmental monitoring sensors that enable NRT to manage forage and water sustainably, especially during periods of extreme drought and heightened pressure on natural resources.

In Madikwe and Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, teams are actively exploring the application of new sensors for various purposes, including ranger and canine tracking, monitoring fence voltage, panic alarms, gate openings and vehicle access. Ongoing modernisation and support of the LoRa integration platform by Dimension Data has facilitated the rapid scalability and onboarding of new proven sensors to all parks. This testing framework and adaptability has empowered our partner sites to expand specific conservation use cases and drive innovations.

Regular communication of results with all our field partners ensures an understanding of and sharing any new benefits derived from technology interventions.

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10. Build conservation technology capacity for local engineers and conservation field staff

Through our partnerships, we collaborate with local organisations in-country, empowering them with technology capabilities and skills for enhanced biodiversity conservation. With Dimension Data, we have provided ongoing assistance and training to conservation teams in the onboarding and configuration of new on-the-ground sensors.

Additionally, at the end of the fiscal year 2022-23, CCF began a satellite capacity programme, providing support and training to our Satellites for Biodiversity Award grantees operating in Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Namibia and Thailand. One-to-one support has started on successfully tasking, capturing, downloading, extracting, accessing high-resolution satellite imagery, thereby positioning them for success in their conservation projects. CCF and partners also started supporting field teams by ensuring they have software and resources needed for their data analysis and mapping needs. This work will continue in the next period.

CCF encourages sharing of knowledge and best practice between sites and gives direct one-to-one specialist training for conservation partners on the ground. Through working on joint projects and facilitating skill developmental support, we foster local capacity and their autonomy in leading future conservation technology initiatives.

11. Share and exchange knowledge and experience widely

CCF acknowledges the vital role of sharing the latest technology knowledge and learnings from the private and public sector for biodiversity preservation. We actively engage with key sectors at prominent events.

Our team presented at major technology and conservation events in the UK and abroad, such as the UK Tech Conference in London, sharing learnings and showcasing the impact of private and NGO collaboration in conservation technology. Our Executive Director participated in the Airbus Digital Recruitment Day, reaching a huge global audience and many representatives from France, Germany, Spain and the UK to showcase our work. As part of this event, CCF engaged with current Airbus employees to encourage leadership in biodiversity impact management and work to influence businesses on key environmental and climate issues.

We also prioritise sharing and learning. We disseminate our research findings and insights while encouraging others to do the same. Our team has taken part in significant events such as the Earth Ranger conference in South Africa in 2022 and the IUCN's Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Conference in Oxford in 2023, alongside participating in workshops and online webinars throughout the year.

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12. Develop new partnerships and a refreshed CCF strategy

In late 2022, CCF faced a new challenge when NTT.ltd ended their official partnership and core funding, to refocus on humanitarian work. Nevertheless, CCF remains unwavering in its commitment to the preservation of species and habitats through technology. We embarked on a strategic reorientation, reshaping CCF's approach.

Our overarching objective remains to forge alliances between private corporations, donors, and local conservation partners, to help protect wildlife and natural ecosystems, and empower community-led conservation through technology. With continued support from Cisco and Airbus Foundation, we will continue to provide the digital infrastructure countries, conservation actors and protected areas need to achieve relevant 30x30 targets. In addition to anti-poaching efforts, the strategy now encompasses a wider set of ambitious goals to tackle further extinction-drivers. Furthermore, assisting protected areas with monitoring and restoring healthy ecosystems that remove Co2 from our climate; empowering community-led conservation initiatives; and fostering positive coexistence between communities and wildlife. As our partners contend with the impacts of climate change and shifts in animal and human behavior, novel challenges are arising, where technology and collaboration are providing solutions.

This has also involved formulating comprehensive strategies for donor engagement, communication, marketing, fundraising and operations. Additionally, CCF has driven efficiencies across our operations, and, whenever feasible, brought capabilities in-house.

Addition of new partners

In early 2023, CCF were delighted to have secured a partnership agreement with Actility, a world leader in Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN) industrial-grade connectivity solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT). Actility is now working with CCF to offer their Things Network software licenses and support for all our field projects.

Additionally CCF has further solidified the alliance between sports and conservation by deepening our connection with Birdies4Rhinos, a rapidly expanding group of 22 global golfers dedicated to fundraising for CCF. They generously donate for each birdie they score.

In the past fiscal year, we were thrilled to welcome two prominent new players, Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Marks, into the Birdies4Rhinos family, bolstering our fundraising support for the next period. The team continues to represent rhino conservation and the vital role conservation technology is playing.

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13. Grow global awareness of CCF

Our refined communications strategy focuses on spotlighting our local partners' work first, then showcasing how CCF helps. We are dedicated to assisting in-country partners in scaling their projects, expanding their own brand’s reach, and sharing their valuable insights with a broad audience, both locally and internationally.

We continued to grow our social media presence, showcasing CCF’s interconnected stories of impact and how our partners are growing in the conservation technology landscape.

We have nurtured and strengthened our relationships with the communication teams of our esteemed partners, including Cisco, NRT, Actility, Airbus Foundation, Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Madikwe Futures, African Parks and our most recent Biodiversity Satellite Award grantees. CCF has focused on creating content that centers around local voices, energy, struggles and triumphs, ensuring that our joint impacts and partnership collaboration is at the center of our storytelling.

Increasing visibility

Our communication and storytelling work has included:

Advancing biodiversity conservation from space: We went big with the launch of our Satellites for Biodiversity grant in partnership with Airbus Foundation, to attract a wealth of applications. This generated interviews in prominent publications including MongaBay and features in respected platforms such as News Space Africa, IT Web, Catapult Satellite Applications, Tech UK, TS2, and Envrio Link. The social media campaign video was shared by some of the biggest players in the Earth Observation community.

Showcasing success in pioneering Northern Kenya's IoT conservation network: We took pride in sharing the success of our work in helping Northern Kenya establish Africa's largest landscape-wide IoT Conservation Network. This achievement significantly boosted our media and social media presence, with highlights in well-regarded publications like the World Economic Forum, RFID Journal, Digital CxO, Fast Company, Control Drives Automation, and TelecomPaper.

Growing our social media reach and engagement

CCF saw a dramatic rise in engagement rates, helping us become more well known on the world stage. (565% engagement increase across Facebook posts, 35% across Instagram and 19% on Twitter. LinkedIn supporters grew by 259%, Twitter by 96% and 85% for Instagram). Our strategic focus on utilisation of video assets and ensuring all partners are tagged and celebrated throughout our communications, has resulted in heightened engagement with our content. By expanding our coverage through social media and deepening our engagement with existing connections, we aspire to help promote the hard work, successes and calls for action of our field partners, fostering a collective community approach.

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How do these activities relate to our longer-term aims and objectives?

On the road to protecting 30% of the planet by 2030, over the next seven years, CCF is committed to equipping more protected areas with impactful technologies to help recover and protect 10,000,000 hectares of intact ecosystems, preserve 50+ threatened species and benefit the local people living in or around reserves.

All activities during the period have helped CCF improve our capabilities to deliver these longer-term aims, across three focus areas:

1. Implementation of robust, proven technologies - to help our partners monitor and protect wildlife and natural ecosystems, empower community-led beneficiation initiatives and improve conservation management operations across vast biodiverse areas.

2. Catalyse and unite investments, resources and supporters to address our local partner’s technology needs and challenges.

3. Support development of local technical capacity to use and maintain appropriate technologies.

4. Bring technology innovation to the ground, evaluate its potential to deliver conservation outcomes.

Significant steps achieved this year to realise our longer-term aims, include:

• Deploying LoRaWan network coverage for 20 further community-led conservancies in Kenya.

• Leveraging donated satellite imagery. This is enabling rapid protection and monitoring of exponential additional hectares. We’ve grown our partnership activities with The Airbus Foundation to make this critical data more accessible to biodiversity conservation globally.

• Building trust with diverse actors, as a credible collaborating partner, offering valuable technical design and support to bring the right solutions to more protected areas.

• Improving our brand to secure new, larger donations and technology partners, who can provide valuable capabilities.

Public benefit

The above activities have been undertaken to help preserve our planet’s rich biodiversity and natural resources. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

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Achievements and performance

Since it was founded, CCF has enabled landscape-wide technology solutions for the protection and monitoring of threatened species and ecosystems across a total of 5,600,000 hectares, in 29 conservancies, within Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia.

This year, our partnerships have equipped new areas with game-changing technologies to manage and protect an additional 600,000 hectares rich in biodiversity, alongside connecting the central operations room of 14 African Parks Sites across 8 new countries. Additionally, the Satellites for Biodiversity award has paved the way for providing high-resolution satellite imagery to help monitor and protect an exponential number of new hectares during both this and the next period.

Achievements summarised in stats for this period only:

• 35+ threatened species protected and managed : including the critically endangered black and white rhino, African elephant, pangolin, leopard, lion, hippo, cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, hirola and Southern Ground Hornbill, are better managed and protected using technology.

• 20 new Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) community-led conservancies : connected with LoRaWan to establish Africa’s largest IoT conservation network in Kenya, enhancing security, rangeland management and connectivity for rhino, elephant and lion populations.

• Zero poaching in Kenya during 2022 : where NRT’s teams, supported by CCF’s donated technologies, operate. This is reported by Kenya Wildlife Service, who states enhanced surveillance has helped protect animals against poaching.

• 1900 km² of high-resolution satellite imagery : provided to Northern Rangeland Trust for monitoring the Lorian Swamp Ecosystem in Kenya.

• 7 transformative projects : Selected through the 'Satellites for Biodiversity' grant with the Airbus Foundation, attracting global high-quality applications to monitor and safeguard endangered species and habitats.

• 14 of African Park’s Headquarters : connected with reliable internet, across 8 countries, including Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Zambia.

• 100+ new rangers : equipped with connectivity for improved communications to keep themselves and wildlife safe, now totalling 250+ rangers.

• 6000 new hectares connected with LoRaWan : At Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, to equip key parts of the park with cutting-edge sensing technologies, with location trackers procured.

• 5 satellite-enabled radios : for Madikwe’s frontline rangers, improving communication efficiency within the reserve.

• 1 new partner : Actility's support added to CCF, offering software support and LoRa gateway licenses for all field partners.

• 2 new Birdies4Rhinos sponsors : Professional golfers Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Marks joined as Birdies for Rhinos as fundraising ambassadors, utilising the golfing industry to raise funds and awareness for CCF’s rhino conservation.

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Review of charitable activities undertaken

Throughout this timeframe, CCF has substantially expanded its provision of technology support and equipment to numerous protected areas. This expansion aims to enhance the protection and management of a growing array of intact ecosystems and endangered species, contributing to the sustainability of natural resources and fostering improved livelihoods within local communities.

Remarkably, CCF accomplishes this with just two dedicated, part-time, core staff members. They provide the framework that enables technology companies to deliver invaluable capabilities to protected areas, supporting both conservation and community initiatives. Despite recent challenges, CCF's impactful work showcases the profound impacts that can be achieved through collaborative partnerships and dedicated efforts.

Review of principle activities:

In delivering the activities listed in section ‘Objectives, strategies and activities’, CCF has maintained excellent relationships with existing and new partners to achieve our combined targets. We have also built trust in CCF within the conservation technology space, where we have gained a reputation for collaboration and valued technical expertise, as a credible supportive partner.

The CCF name is now more widely known. This has been demonstrated by increasing invitations to speak at a variety of conservation conferences (seen during the next period), to share our groundbreaking and impactful work.

The value of our contribution has also been demonstrated by increasing demand for our assistance. In 2023, CCF saw a long list of local conservation partners approaching the organisation in need of help. To accommodate this demand, CCF has formulated a Strategic Programme Committee and investment framework criteria, to review strategic engagement of new resources with new global project partners.

Fundraising performance achieved against fundraising activities set

During this accounting period, Connected Conservation Foundation fundraising performance was significantly reduced. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT Ltd) ended its partnership agreement with CCF to refocus on climate and humanitarian issues, instead of biodiversity.

In light of this reduction in annual income, CCF defined a new fundraising strategy and began sourcing new partnerships and donors to support the roadmap of planned activities. This was executed and the results will fall in the next period. As a result of these changes, CCF’s grant making was reduced, with plans to increase again in 2022-2023, in line with new income.

Investment performance achieved against investment activities set

No investments have been made in this accounting period and no material financial investments are held.

Factors relevant to achievement of objectives

Adequate funds have been raised to bridge this period of partnership changes, cover core costs and carry out all planned activities. Some reserves have been used to support planned activities, fundraising and strategy work, ensuring no compromises to ongoing project roadmaps and impacts.

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Financial review

Our total income for our third year of operation was £31,126. Income and donations from corporate partnerships and individual giving totalled £31,126.

Our expenditure was £166,242. This year, monetary grants to conservation partners were reduced until CCF secures a new primary sponsor, yet significant donations of valuable equipment to protected areas continued. £90,338 was spent on; staffing costs for the wider team to programme manage implementation of donated technologies to field projects; development of technical capacity, technical support, logistics, fundraising and communications. Other expenses were allocated to cover IT running costs and the development of an impact measurement framework to understand the conservation return of CCF and partners technology investments.

Policy on reserves

The charity has no formal reserves policy. Reserves held by the charity are monitored and regularly reviewed by the trustees to ensure that the level of reserves held will sufficiently cover expected levels of future expenditure.

On 31 March 2023 the charity holds total funds of £230,190. All of these funds are unrestricted, and therefore total free reserves for the charity are £230,190.

Principal funding sources

CCF is extremely grateful to our supporters and donors who have helped during this period. Without their collaboration, none of our achievements are possible. We would like to thank:

• Funding • Birdies4Rhinos • Airbus Foundation

Facilitated equipment donations to protected areas

• Cisco System PLC • Actility

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Plans for future periods

Aims and key objectives for future periods

In the next accounting period, the Connected Conservation Foundation aims to continue its work, to equip environmental professionals with tools to protect and manage more threatened species and natural ecosystems in important biodiverse geographies.

Specific objectives induce:

1. Expand monitoring and management of species and their habitats using high resolution satellite imagery - Equipping Round 1 winners and launching Round 2 of the Satellites for Biodiversity Award

Having observed a remarkable quantity and caliber of applications during our award initiative, we are dedicated to initiating a second iteration of the Satellites for Biodiversity Award. Four winners will receive access to the most advanced optical satellite imagery at 30cm spatial resolution from Airbus Pléiades Neo and 50cm from Pléiades, alongside $6,000 USD of financial funding, access to Airbus’ Archive Library on request, free ESRI software and support and guidance from leading experts at Connected Conservation Foundation and Airbus Foundation.

This commitment will broaden our assistance to a more extensive array of global organistions engaged in vital conservation endeavors.

2. Unlock the power of coupling high-resolution satellite imagery and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for nature through the Satellite Sandbox programme.

This initiative will facilitate the testing of conservation applications, ideas and concepts, while hastening model output and insights. By leveraging our existing partnership with Airbus Foundation and forming new connections with AI experts and field partners, the program seeks to align expectations on what impacts are achievable with AI and high resolution imagery, with the practicalities of on-the-ground challenges.

The programme will capture 30 cm satellite imagery of the Maasai Mara ecosystem in Kenya, and engage multiple field and technology partners working in the region to advance novel conservation approaches utilising this data. The sandbox will enhance the accessibility of this imagery for various partners. Empowering them to exchange and test the suitability of new AI models for diverse monitoring use cases on the Maasai Mara's high-resolution satellite data, thereby contributing to wildlife conservation, ecosystem health, integrity, connectivity and early threat detection.

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3. Improve human wildlife coexistence in Chobe National Park, Botswana, through LoRaWan.

Recognised for its rich biodiversity, Chobe National Park, Botswana, faces challenges including human-wildlife conflicts, particularly with elephants (where there are more elephants than people10), lions and buffalo. Working with partners Conservation International, 51 Degrees, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), EarthRanger and Cisco, we aim to help address these issues by introducing a comprehensive network infrastructure, including a LoRaWan network, servers, internet links and IoT integration platform that will support a range of LoRa-enabled sensors. CCF will also enable ongoing technical support remotely to assist the park's management teams.

Through the strategic implementation of cutting-edge technologies, the project will strive to improve the effectiveness of protected area management operations, elevate wildlife monitoring capabilities, and contribute to fostering peace and security in the region. The collaborative effort will involve equipping local teams with the necessary skills to proficiently utilise and maintain these new technologies. CCF will fund and train an on-the-ground Network Engineer to maintain these solutions in the field. Emphasis will be placed on cultivating collaboration, sharing both successes and challenges, and instilling a culture of inclusion among participating organisations.

10 Garvin, S. (2017). The jumbo problem of living with elephants: Varying perspectives on human-elephant conflict in Chobe District, Botswana. Tropical Resources, 36, 9-16.4. Advance our impact monitoring framework for conservation technologies - Phase 2

4. Advance our impact monitoring framework for conservation technologies - Phase 2

Our Technology Impact Assessment Framework will continue to be validated through the application to incidents within Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, to refine the methodology and indicators for further use cases. New funding is needed to complete this work. CCF will be fundraising to refine the framework ready for dissemination across the conservation community for widespread benefit.

5. Expand CCF’s international operations

We will establish a new registered charitable entity in South Africa, deepening our local roots, enabling us to tailor our conservation initiatives to address region-specific challenges. By anchoring ourselves in this locale, we aim for a more local impact, aligning with the needs of the South African context and building relationships with key funders and stakeholders in the region.

Additionally, we plan to grow our team by recruiting a GIS & Data Science Specialist. This individual will drive the implementation of cutting-edge technology in remote sensing projects, collaborating globally with local conservation teams and technology partners such as Cisco and Airbus Foundation.

6. Planning and preparation to equip new protected areas with game-changing technologies and build new local technical capacity

Our team will engage with new protected areas who have applied for CCF support. Working to understand their unique requirements, and their alignment with our conservation goals and strategy. Our ongoing emphasis on fundraising initiatives with technology partners and donors, will ensure we can help more protected areas with tools and capacity in new biodiverse regions.

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Activities planned to achieve aims

To achieve the above CCF will:

1. Execute the first round of the grant program in partnership with the Airbus Foundation. Additionally, design, coordinate, and launch the second round of the Satellites for Biodiversity Award.

2. Collaborate with the 51 Degrees implementation team, to deploy LoRaWan networks and sensors in Chobe National Park, Botswana.

3. Strategically engage, assess, plan and fundraise for expanding the LoRa Network to encompass additional conservancies in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Namibia.

4. Continue research and development to offer valuable sensors and technology applications

5. Continue ongoing support for existing technology installations.

6. Evaluate projects using our Technology Impact Measurement Framework and collaborate with local partners to enhance the application, performance, and measurement of technology interventions.

Structure, governance and management

Nature of governing document

Connected Conservation Foundation is a charitable company (company number 11632911) limited by guarantee and a registered charity (charity number 1183328). Its governing document is its Articles of Association.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Trustees were recruited based on their experience and expertise in the context of wildlife conservation and technology. Directors have also been chosen to represent the views of contributing partners. All Directors are willing to act as a director and have been nominated in writing by the founding member. They have been appointed by resolution of the Directors.

Induction and training of trustees

All trustees are kept up to date on the strategy and financial aims for the upcoming periods and this is agreed by all Directors. There have been no changes to the list of representatives on the Board of Directors.

Arrangements for setting key management personnel remuneration

Policies around setting remuneration, include an assessment of competitive pay for executive level staff in Foundations. The Foundation has set benchmarked salary bands to attract and retain appropriate personnel and ensure transparency and fairness in the use of charity resources. Payroll and associated benefits for newly recruited staff have been established with accounting firm Stewart & Co Accountants LLP.

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Organisational structure

The Board of the Foundation is made up of 4 unpaid Trustees. Mr B Watson is the Executive Chairman and Founder of the Connected Conservation Foundation and will table decision-making with the Board of Directors. The following types of decisions are taken by the charity’s Trustees and remaining decisions are delegated to staff.

Director decisions include:

• agreeing strategy;

• approving major commitments;

• financial review and approval;

• partnership engagement and due diligence;

• senior level recruitment;

• risk management and mitigation.

CCF’s Executive Director reports into the Executive Chairman and provides inputs to the Board for informed decision-making. Foundation staff will report into the Executive Director and be responsible for day-to-day decision-making, to execute operations, project delivery, marketing and communications.

All other decisions are delegated to the staff.

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Major risks and management of those risks

CCF has reworked the identification of risks within the risk register. We've reviewed these with specified members of the senior team and Trustees, to help track, manage and drive mitigation strategies. The designated risk owner reports on each risk, at required intervals, to all Trustees and Senior Leads.

The Trustees review the Charity’s Risk Register annually at its AGM and consider the following:

Financial risk

All trustees are kept up to date on the strategy and financial aims for the upcoming periods and this is agreed by all Directors. There have been no changes to the list of representatives on the Board of Directors.

Political instability

Government changes in Botswana have delayed the Chobe National Park project to the next period. CCF is ensuring this project remains in the portfolio and has worked tirelessly to find new partners so the donated equipment and technologies are deployed for their original purpose. By building a trusted network of established partners, CCF is assured that donated tools will always and only be used for impact to protect endangered species and benefit local communities.

Matched technology donations from corporate partners

With NTT.Ltd leaving the partnership, there is a risk that other corporate partners will also cease to donate technologies to protected areas, in the same way as before. CCF has worked hard to reassure Chuck Robbins, the CEO of Cisco, and Francine Katsoudas, Head of Marketing to secure further future donations of Cisco technologies, which will fall in the next period.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Planned implementations, logistics and support procedures are now normalised. This has been removed as a risk, for now.

Working overseas with changing political frameworks

Unpredictable contexts in working overseas can impact our activities. There are several unpredictable political, social and economic situations in some countries we work in. This can impact technology and equipment donations from our corporate partners. CCF works closely with our corporate partners Cisco and Airbus Foundation to preempt any export control bans on equipment to certain countries. Ensuring that our supported projects foresee and overcome challenges in supply of donated equipment to their region. CCF has found work around solutions for these emerging scenarios and will continue to work closely to mitigate these risks in the future.

The Board is confident that the appropriate steps have been taken to mitigate the potential impact of these risks occurring.

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Small companies provision statement

This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 14 December 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

SIGNED SECURELY 18/12/2023 at 5:40:53 PM UTC

......................................... Mr B Watson Trustee

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Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of Connected Conservation Foundation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable accounting standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Approved by the trustees of the charity on 14 December 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

SIGNED SECURELY 18/12/2023 at 5:40:53 PM UTC

......................................... Mr B Watson Trustee

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Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Connected Conservation Foundation ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Connected Conservation Foundation as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

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.

...................................... Lucy Evans, FCA

Stewart & Co. Chartered Accountants Knoll House Knoll Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3SY

14 December 2023

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Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 14 Total expenditure Net expenditure Other recognised gains and losses Other gains/losses 15 Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 9 Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 14 Total expenditure Net income Other recognised gains and losses Other gains/losses Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 9	Unrestricted funds £ 31,126 31,126 (129,015) (129,015) (97,889) 20,663 (77,226) 307,416 230,190 Unrestricted funds £ 200,866 200,866 (166,242) (166,242) 34,624 (489) 34,135 273,281 307,416	Total 2023 £ 31,126 31,126 (129,015) (129,015) (97,889) 20,663 (77,226) 307,416 230,190 Total 2022 £ (As restated) 200,866
		200,866
		(166,242)
		(166,242)
		34,624 (489)
		34,135 273,281
		307,416

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2022 is shown in note 9.

The notes on pages 32 to 41 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 30

Connected Conservation Foundation

(Registration number: 11632911) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023

Note Current assets Debtors 6 Cash at bank and in hand 7 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 8 Net assets Funds of the charity: Unrestricted income funds Unrestricted funds Total funds 9	2023 £ 2,049 235,526 237,575 (7,385) 230,190 230,190 230,190	2022 £ (As restated) - 312,893
		312,893 (5,477)
		307,416
		307,416
		307,416

For the financial year ending 31 March 2023 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

• The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and

• The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

The financial statements on pages 30 to 41 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 14 December 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

SIGNED SECURELY

18/12/2023 at 5:40:53 PM UTC

......................................... Mr B Watson Trustee

The notes on pages 32 to 41 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 31

Connected Conservation Foundation

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: 13 St Luke's Street Chelsea London SW3 3RS

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). They also comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011.

Basis of preparation

Connected Conservation Foundation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

The financial statements are prepared in GBP, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The previous year's accounts were prepared in USD, the figures have been restated.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

The trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements.

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Changes in accounting policy

Income and endowments

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations and legacies

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Support costs

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.

Governance costs

These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Borrowings

Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period of the relevant borrowing.

Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the charity has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.

Foreign exchange

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date.

The results of overseas operations are translated at the average rates of exchange during the period and their balance sheets at the rates ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising on translation of the opening net assets and results of overseas operations are reported in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity (attributed to non-controlling interests as appropriate).

Other exchange differences are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period in which they arise except for:

1) exchange differences on transactions entered into to hedge certain foreign currency risks (see above);

2) exchange differences arising on gains or losses on non-monetary items which are recognised in other comprehensive income; and

3) in the case of the consolidated financial statements, exchange differences on monetary items receivable from or payable to a foreign operation for which settlement is neither planned nor likely to occur (therefore forming part of the net investment in the foreign operation), which are recognised in other comprehensive income and reported under equity.

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Connected Conservation Foundation

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Financial instruments

Classification

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.

Recognition and measurement

All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of financial position when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the charity intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the charity transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the charity, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party.

Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.

3 Income from donations and legacies

Donations and legacies; Donations Total for 2023 Total for 2022	Unrestricted funds General £ 31,126 31,126 200,866	Total funds £ 31,126
		31,126
		200,866

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Connected Conservation Foundation

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

4 Independent examiner's remuneration

4 Independent examiner's remuneration
	2023	2022
	£	£
Examination of the financial statements	2,400	2,225

5 Taxation

The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.

6 Debtors

2023 £ Prepayments 2,049

7 Cash and cash equivalents

7 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank 8 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Other taxation and social security Other creditors Accruals	2023 £ 235,526 2023 £ 2,298 2,687 2,400 7,385	2022 £ (As restated) 312,893
		2022 £ (As restated) 1,925 1,863 1,689
		5,477

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Connected Conservation Foundation

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

9 Funds

9 Funds
Balance at 1 April 2022 £ Unrestricted funds General General 307,416 Balance at 1 April 2021 £ Unrestricted funds General General 273,282 10 Analysis of net assets between funds Current assets Current liabilities Total net assets Current assets Current liabilities Total net assets	Incoming resources £ 31,126 Incoming resources £ 200,866	Resources expended £ Other recognised gains/(losses) £ Balance at 31 March 2023 £ (129,014) 20,662 230,190 Resources expended £ Other recognised gains/(losses) £ Balance at 31 March 2022 £ (166,241) (491) 307,416 Unrestricted funds Total funds at 31 March General £ 2023 £ 237,575 237,575 (7,385) (7,385) 230,190 230,190 Unrestricted funds Total funds at 31 March General £ 2022 £ (As restated) 312,893 312,893 (5,477) (5,477) 307,416 307,416		Balance at 31 March 2023 £ 230,190
				Balance at 31 March 2022 £ 307,416
			230,190
			Total funds at 31 March 2022 £ (As restated) 312,893 (5,477)
			307,416

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Connected Conservation Foundation

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

11 Financial instruments

Categorisation of financial instruments

Categorisation of financial instruments
Financial assets measured at amortised cost Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost	2023 £ 235,526 (2,699)	(As restated) 2022 £ 312,893
		(1,922)

12 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year. Last year, Mr B Watson was reimbursed £916 for travel expenses.

Page 38

Connected Conservation Foundation

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

13 Analysis of governance and support costs

Support Costs Bank charges Computer and Website costs Staff Costs Legal & professional fees Other expenses - Travel Measurement & Evaluation Governance costs Independent examiner fees Examination of the financial statements	NRT Project £ - 1,443 22,585 - 2,616 2,542 29,186 - 29,186	Madikwe £ - 1,443 22,585 - 2,616 2,542 29,186 - 29,186	Core £ 433 2,886 45,169 854 5,233 - 54,575 2,400 56,975	Total 2023 £ 433 5,772 90,339 854 10,465 5,084 112,947 2,400 115,347	(As restated) Total 2022 £ 556 27,669 58,875 328 8,196 6,154
					101,778 2,225
					104,003

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Connected Conservation Foundation

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

14 Expenditure on charitable activities

Analysis by fund

Note NRT Project Grant Madikwe Grant Allocated support costs (NRT, Madikwe & Core) 13 Governance costs 13 Total for 2023 Total for 2022 Analysis by type Activity undertaken directly £ Total for 2022 86,169	Unrestricted funds General £ 9,811 3,857 107,863 2,400 123,931 166,242 Activity support costs £ 141,782	Total funds £ 9,811 3,857 107,863 2,400
		123,931
		166,242
		Total expenditure £ 227,951

15 Other recognised gains/losses

Foreign currency (gains)/losses	Unrestricted funds General £ (20,663) (20,663)	Total 2023 £ (20,663) (20,663)	Total 2022 £ (As restated) 489
			489

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Connected Conservation Foundation

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

16 Staff costs

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:

	2023		2022
	No		No
Administrative		2		2

The number of employees whose emoluments fell within the following bands was:

2023 No £60,001 - £70,000 1

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £90,338 (2022 - £55,874).

The Executive Director, as the highest paid member of staff, received benefits totalling £62,966 (2022 - £Nil).

17 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.

No trustees have received any other benefits from the charity during the year. Last year Mr B Watson was reimbursed £916, for travel expenses.

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