The Conservation Trust
The Conservation Trust advances two urgent conservation priorities: combating environmental crime, including illicit wildlife trafficking, and ending South Africa’s captive lion industry. Founded under the leadership of former Environment Minister Dion George, the Trust is focused on turning landmark policy achievements and international cooperation into lasting conservation action.
Our Call to Action
Our statement of intent
The Conservation Trust is dedicated to advancing two urgent and globally significant conservation priorities:
Combating crimes that affect the environment and ending the captive lion industry in South Africa.
Established under the leadership of former Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, the Trust builds on the landmark 2025 G20 Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Crimes that Affect the Environment a breakthrough international agreement securing G20 cooperation against illicit wildlife trafficking, illegal trade in natural resources, and related environmental crimes.
At the same time, the Trust is committed to completing the work of closing South Africa’s captive lion industry by supporting legislative reform, ethical conservation, and the protection of Africa’s wildlife heritage. Focused, practical and impact-driven, the Trust exists to turn international commitments and conservation policy into measurable action.
Environmental Crime
Leading the Global Fight Against Environmental Crime
The Conservation Trust is driving international cooperation to combat crimes that affect the environment, including illicit wildlife trafficking, illegal trade in natural resources, and associated illicit financial flows.
Building on the landmark 2025 G20 Cape Town Ministerial Declaration secured under the leadership of former Environment Minister Dion George, the initiative focuses on strengthening enforcement, advancing global partnerships, and ensuring that environmental crime remains a central priority on the international agenda.
Ending The Captive Lion Trade
Restoring dignity to the king of the beasts
The Conservation Trust is committed to ending South Africa’s cruel, and inhumane captive lion breeding industry and advancing ethical, science-based wildlife conservation that acknowledges animal sentience. Captive lion breeding which industry includes canned hunts has been a mark on brand South Africa for decades.
Building on legislative progress achieved under former Environment Minister Dion George, including the prohibition of new captive lion facilities, the Trust will work to support the full phase-out of captive breeding, protect wild lion populations, and restore South Africa’s global conservation leadership.
Why Address Environmental Crime?
Threats Facing Our Planet
Environmental crime is one of the world’s fastest-growing transnational threats, driving biodiversity loss, organised crime, corruption, and the destruction of ecosystems that communities and economies depend upon. From illicit wildlife trafficking and illegal logging to unlawful mining, waste dumping, and the trafficking of natural resources, these crimes undermine the rule of law, fuel illicit financial flows, and place immense pressure on already vulnerable species and environments.
Tackling environmental crime is therefore not only a conservation imperative, but a matter of global economic stability, and intergenerational justice.
Why End Captive Lion Breeding?
The Ethics of Captive Breeding
The captive lion breeding and canned hunting industry has raised profound ethical, conservation, and reputational concerns for South Africa and the global wildlife community. Breeding lions for commercial exploitation – including canned hunting, cub petting, and the trade in lion parts undermines genuine conservation, damages South Africa’s international standing, and erodes public trust in responsible wildlife management.
Phasing out the industry is essential to protecting animal welfare, restoring conservation integrity, reducing opportunities for wildlife crime, and ensuring that lions are valued as part of healthy wild ecosystems rather than commodities in a commercial supply chain.
Our Foundational Statement
What we stand for
Our foundational statement is available, please click here.
The Conservation Trust exists to advance practical, evidence-based solutions to combat environmental crime, strengthen global conservation policy, and protect wildlife in free-living ecosystems. Guided by international conservation principles, the Trust is committed to building durable global partnerships, supporting ethical and sustainable conservation practices, strengthening enforcement against illicit wildlife trade, and promoting policies that uphold biodiversity, animal welfare, ecological integrity, and the right to a healthy environment for present and future generations.
Contact Us
A Future Where Wildlife Can Thrive
Protecting wildlife for future generations
Email: info@conservation-trust.com
Phone: +44 7428 496340