sponsors

The conservation and preservation of the environment has become a major worldwide issue, dramatically changing the attitudes of consumers and the way large corporations do business.

Against this background the Mazda Wildlife Fund was formed in April 1990, funded jointly by the South African Motor Corporation (SAMCOR) – now Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa and its nation wide network of Mazda Dealers. The Fund has committed to an amount of R1.5 million per annum from 2001 for investment in the conservation of biodiversity for the benefit of all South Africans and has invested over R20 million over the past 17 years.

As the Fund`s commitment to environmental conservation is viewed as long term, it has formed a partnership with the relevant leading NGOs in South Africa through the creation of an Advisory Board, which reviews applications made to the Fund for assistance and recommends specific projects for Mazda Wildlife sponsorship.

The Fund currently supports 32 non-Government / non-profit organisation type projects with 34 vehicles, covering every aspect of conservation and environmental education. These are situated throughout South Africa and include structured environmental educational projects, research projects and projects involved in the direct preservation of endangered species and habitats. To date over 140 projects have received support from the Fund.

As a rule, sponsorship is provided in the form of Mazda vehicles which are placed with projects on a loan basis, renewable annually. Limited financial support is only considered for the publication of books and reports on key environmental issues relating to projects that are currently being sponsored.

The vehicles are maintained by the Mazda Dealers with all service and normal maintenance costs being met by the Fund.

Servicing Dealers monitor the condition of the project vehicles to ensure that they operate at peak efficiency and are a visible credit to the Mazda brand, as they are working in the field to preserve our precious natural heritage.