Prince William brings Earthshot to Africa and launches global support for rangers

‘Africa has always held a special place in my heart – as somewhere I found comfort as a teenager, where I proposed to my wife and most recently as the founding inspiration behind The Earthshot Prize,” Prince William said ahead of his visit to Cape Town this week.

The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William in 2020, is a global environmental award aimed at discovering and scaling innovative solutions to combat environmental challenges like climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss.

Each year, five winners receive £1-million to scale their businesses. The prize aims to discover 50 winners over 10 years with the power to repair the planet.

Each year a cohort of 15 finalists is spotlighted at the Earthshot Ceremony, before five winners are chosen.

Prince William meets Bathandwa Diniso, founder of youth organisation Mayine e-Africa, and young people part of the initiative on Signal Hill, Cape Town, on 5 November 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)

Prince William meets young people part of the youth organisation Mayine e-Africa on Signal Hill, Cape Town, on 5 November 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)

When asked about Cape Town hosting the awards, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis told Daily Maverick, “It’s a really big deal. It’s only the fourth city that it has been hosted in. It’s the prince’s personal choice, so it’s an honour.

“And of course, it means that the eyes of the whole world are on our city for this week,” he said, referring to the large group of UK media that travelled to Cape Town this week to cover the prince’s visit.

As part of Earthshot Week in South Africa, Prince William is participating in events showcasing environmental innovations and gathering world-class leaders in conservation.

On Tuesday morning, he visited Signal Hill within Table Mountain National Park, meeting SANParks rangers, firefighters and conservation experts. Hill-Lewis, who joined the prince, said he was “impressed by his knowledge and interest in conservation”.

“He was really interested and clearly involved, knowledgeable on the subjects [of conservation and rangers]. So I was very, very impressed,” said Hill-Lewis.

‘Antidote to despair’

Later, Prince William attended Earthshot+, a series of panel discussions with global experts focused on scaling the prize’s impact.

Prince William meets Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Dion George at the United for Wildlife Global Showcase in Cape Town on 5 November 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)

During one panel discussion, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George spoke about South Africa’s role in accelerating conservation.

Noting that Africa did not have a consolidated position on plastic pollution, George said, “There’s a lot of issues that we need to resolve, but we can’t do a thousand things – we can do one thing first, do it properly, get it done, and then keep on moving to another one. And that’s what we’re doing in South Africa.

“We must work with what we have, not what we hope we have,” he said.

In a panel discussion with A’aron John, a Nigerian Earthshot Youth Programme member, and Tokunboh Ishmael, an Earthshot Prize trustee, Prince William reiterated the purpose of the prize.

From left: Earthshot Prize Youth Programme member A’aron John, Prince William and Earthshot Prize Trustee Tokunboh Ishmael during panel discussion at Earthshot+ in Cape Town on 5 November. (Photo: Julia Evans)

“When I founded the Earthshot Prize, it was around trying to find solutions, and scale these solutions as fast as possible to make an impact,” he said.

“But it was also… an antidote to the despair and desperation around the environment – so allowing people hope, and a platform to channel that urgent optimism to deliver solutions.”

This visit to Cape Town is the prince’s first official trip to South Africa since 2010 and his first to Africa since a 2018 tour of Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya, where he was inspired to create the Earthshot Prize after observing the impact small projects can have on the environment and local communities.

Supporting rangers on the frontlines of illegal wildlife trade

In his last engagement of the day, Prince William announced a new initiative to support rangers who are crucial in anti-poaching and environmental protection efforts at the 2024 United for Wildlife Global Showcase.

United for Wildlife, founded by Prince William in 2013, is a global alliance of public, private, and non-profit organisations working to combat illegal wildlife trade.

Prince William meets Cathy Dreyer, head ranger at Kruger National Park (right), and other rangers from around the world at the United for Wildlife Global Showcase in Cape Town on 5 November 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)

Speaking to rangers experiences, Cathy Dreyer, head ranger at Kruger National Park said, “Working as the head ranger in Kruger National Park is one of the most exciting, dynamic, interesting, and rewarding roles I’ve ever had the privilege of fulfilling. But it’s not without its challenges, heartache and risks.”

Dreyer noted that between 2011 and 2023, South Africa lost 9,747 rhinos to poaching, with 5,561 of those in Kruger alone.

Nearly 400 rangers patrol the vast park day and night, aided by canine units and aerial support, but face increased dangers from criminal syndicates and armed conflict, making their work more dangerous than ever.

“Previously, the threats to rangers were only direct threats from animals and the environment,” said Dreyer.

“But in recent times, criminal intentions, the infiltration of ranger teams by crime syndicates, armed conflict and the legal implications and obligations they may face are some of the biggest threats to rangers.”

“This often leaves rangers feeling unsupported, demoralised and  undervalued.”

Read more: A Ranger’s Tale: Protecting the Garden Route National Park

Dreyer emphasised that while various interventions had been implemented to reduce rhino poaching in the past few years – including increasing the law enforcement personnel, increasing canine units, increasing funding available for law enforcement operations – poaching still continued.

“I think many of us have realised that we need to shift the emphasis back to rangers,” she said.

Prince William meets rangers from around the world at the United for Wildlife Global Showcase in Cape Town, 5 November 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)

Dreyer highlighted various ongoing projects to support rangers, which included improving ranger pay and training, and providing a safe space to address their challenges. She also highlighted financial literacy and legal support to help rangers navigate pressures and avoid debt traps.

During his speech at the United for Wildlife Global Showcase, Prince William revealed a groundbreaking, five-year support package for rangers across Africa.

Launched by The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife programme, with Tusk Trust and the Game Rangers Association of Africa, the financial package is set to provide 10,000 rangers with access to appropriate, affordable in-service and medical evacuation insurance cover.

While acknowledging that ​​illegal wildlife trade had become a priority for global leaders and a focus for many of the world’s largest businesses, the Prince of Wales said, “We must also recognise the people on the front lines – the rangers, the indigenous peoples and the local communities who are the guardians of our planet’s most precious resources.

“These people do far more than protect wildlife. They are educators, they are community supporters and they help regulate the sustainable use of natural resources.

“Yet, far too often, they lack sufficient support, with rangers in particular facing inadequate pay and protection,” he said.

“This has come into even sharper focus over the past two years, following the murder of Anton Mzimba here in South Africa,” said Prince William.

“Anton was assassinated in his home for doing his job, protecting the incredible biodiversity of this country. And globally, 1,400 rangers have been killed in the past decade.”

The State of the Ranger report from the International Ranger Federation found that:

• Only 38% of rangers surveyed had access to life insurance;


• Less than 60% had adequate health and safety training;


• When asked what kind of career growth opportunities were available, only 50% of rangers highlighted increased salary, 46% selected promotion to a better position, and 44% selected specialised or additional training.

Currently, fewer than 300,000 rangers are working globally, but estimates suggest five times that number are needed to properly meet conservation commitments.

“We cannot protect our planet without them, which is why this initiative aims to ensure that rangers receive much-needed life insurance cover, giving them and their families reassurance that they are protected for the dangerous job they do. It will be led by those who protect nature, for those who protect nature,” said the prince.

From left: Prince William speaks to Australian conservationist Robert Irwin, Table Mountain National Park Manager Megan Taplin and Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis during a walk on Signal Hill, Cape Town, on 5 November 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)

United for Wildlife is also supporting a leadership development and capacity-building initiative for 170 nature protectors across South Africa, delivered in close partnership with the Southern African Wildlife College, and 60 nature protectors are set to be provided with access to two-year leadership training in Kruger National Park.

“By the end of the week, I want The Earthshot Prize to have provided a platform to all those innovators bringing about change for their communities, encouraged potential investors to speed African solutions to scale and inspired young people across Africa who are engaged in climate issues,” said the Prince of Wales.

“I firmly believe that if we come together with collective ambition and urgency, we can reshape the future of our planet.” DM

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