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GREATNESS FOUND. BOUNDARIES BROKEN.

The Litterboom Project exists to stop plastic from entering the ocean by intercepting it in rivers where 80% of ocean plastic originates.

The organizations work directly protects marine ecosystems and helps restore coastlines, while also creating employment and skills development opportunities in underserved communities.

By installing Litterboom’s (plastic pollution barriers)in rivers and employing local teams to manage them addressing both environmental degradation and social inequality in one integrated solution.

TLP aims to protect the ocean and marine life by deploying four teams to manage Litterbooms, in the Umhlanga and Black Rivers, as well as our coastal teams at Mangroves (supports the Umngeni River) and Milnerton (supports the Black River) Beaches.

These rivers are key pathways for plastic waste to enter the ocean, where it causes severe harm to marine ecosystems and wildlife. By intercepting an estimated 15 tonnes of environmental waste per month before it reaches the ocean, TLP helps reduce the deadly impact of plastic on fish, birds, and other marine species. This intervention not only protects biodiversity but also improves river health, creates local jobs, and supports long-term waste management and environmental education efforts.

TLP  also support upstream community building interventions, such as supporting recliners and advocating for investment into waste manage infrastructure, as well as improved governance around plastic single use products (to the Department off Forestries and Fisheries and producers in private sector)

MEET THE DEFENDERS OF TOMORROW

Click here to navigate to the inspirational projects shortlisted for the Defender Awards.

A LEGACY OF PURPOSE

Since 1948 Defender has helped expand knowledge of our planet’s ecosystems by navigating places many thought impossible to reach.

 

Timeless Land Rover legacy

  

  

  

NORTH TO SOUTH

In 1960, the seemingly impossible was achieved when a Series I Land Rover, travelled from Canada to Panama. Roaming dense vegetation, steep hills and swamps that made up the 483km just south of the Panama Canal, the journey served to highlight the extraordinary biodiversity and cultures that span the continent. 

Joyful water festival celebration

  

  

  

EAST TO WEST

In 1955, six Oxford and Cambridge students drove two Land Rover Series I’s from London to Singapore and back again — a 51,500km voyage. With minimal off-road modifications —  winches, long-range fuel tanks, spotlights and jerry cans — the team crossed unforgiving deserts, jungles and waterways, documenting the flora, fauna, and people they met along the way. 

DEMO

DEFENDER PARTNERSHIPS

Emergency response team assembled

RED CROSS

Defender and the British Red Cross have worked together since 1954 to build community strength, and resilience around the world.

Adventure begins with Defender

TUSK

Tusk’s rangers brave remote and treacherous terrains with the strength and capability of Defender, preserving biodiversity in Africa.

*Our definition of small charity or organisation is one which generates a gross income of under £500,000 per year.

 

To qualify you will need to go through a three-stage application process. As part of this process we will undertake independent third-party eligibility checks. For more information about these checks, please see our Q&A.

 

The awards process has been designed to make it as easy as possible to apply to the programme.

 

Stage One: This first stage of the application process is designed to ensure that your organisation is of the right size, scale and in the right sectors to be eligible for the programme.

 

Stage Two: A more detailed application in which you will need to outline specific information about the project for which you require support. Details of how you will use the funding and vehicle and how you will measure the impact. Here you will need to showcase your film making skills as we will require a 60 – 90 second video providing an elevator pitch of your project.


Stage Three: A panel of experts will review the final shortlisted applications and select the winners.