Rangers work against all odds protecting the things we love. This comes at a significant price as many rangers are killed in the line of duty whilst they work for nature. A recent survey of rangers conducted by the WWF showed that almost 80% of the 1742 respondents had faced a life-threatening encounter during their work. Rangers deserve more and as such the theme for World Ranger Day 2021 is focused on the need for improved ranger safety and wellbeing.
The International Ranger Federation (IRF) reports that at least 120 rangers have died worldwide in the last twelve months in the line of duty. Added to these deaths, the IRF notes that, shockingly, almost 500 rangers have succumbed to COVID-19 worldwide.
Africa has experienced its worst year in memory regarding ranger deaths. The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) has recorded 86 ranger deaths on the continent, of which 82 were in the line of duty. This means that at least 472 African rangers have been killed in action in the last decade. Over 51% of these rangers have been murdered by militia groups, terrorists and bandits in co-ordinated attacks or by poachers whilst protecting our wildlife and wild places. Sadly, we anticipate as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across our continent that the number of rangers who have died from COVID-19 will rise dramatically. It remains of utmost importance for rangers to take basic precautions like wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and washing their hands regularly. Most importantly rangers need to get vaccinated.
Rangers are frontline workers and deserve equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations. They conserve and protect the very health of our planet and its communities of wildlife and people. They deserve better and we call on both government, private and the NGO sector to ensure ranger health is prioritised as it should be alongside other frontline workers.
‘On World Ranger Day we acknowledge our fallen ranger colleagues across the world. We pay tribute to them and their family members who have made tremendous sacrifices that do not go unnoticed. Perhaps the greatest tribute we can pay to our colleagues involves more than just acknowledgement. We need commitments and ultimately actions to ensure improved ranger safety and wellbeing in the workplace to help prevent many of these deaths in the future,’ said Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of the GRAA.
With the theme of this year’s World Ranger Day being ranger safety and wellbeing, the GRAA has been focusing on our RangerCare initiative in the hopes of making a tangible difference to rangers on the ground by improving their wellbeing.
Currently, through a joint initiative with SATIB Insurance Brokers called RangerProtect, we support over 1500 rangers with accidental death, disability and medical evacuation cover. This is the largest policy of its kind in Africa. Costing just $45 per ranger per year, this provides financial support to the families of rangers killed in action and ensures rangers receive in-field support if they are injured to prevent death or serious injury.
The GRAA is also coordinating efforts with leading emergency and wilderness medicine specialists to improve the standards of ranger first aid training. In August, together with these partners we will be releasing the first edition of the Guidelines and Scope of Practice for African Rangers First Aid (ARFA). The intention is to assist governments, conservation groups, or other NGOs to develop appropriate curricula and trainings to reduce and minimize ranger deaths and disabilities. These guidelines will be important in improving the access rangers have to quality remote area first aid training that is both relevant and appropriate to their working conditions.
It is exciting to announce that in the interests of improving ranger safety, Meddev and Safeguard Medical will be embarking on a partnership with GRAA to support the roll out of quality first aid equipment for rangers. This will build on the existing partnership we have with specialist ranger first aid training provider Safe Ranger Africa who have trained hundreds of rangers in life saving skills. Initially 20 rangers will benefit from the next course where they will be issued with top quality individual first aid kits. In the coming months this partnership will develop a long term and sustainable roll out plan to support rangers with improved access to quality equipment.
“It is exciting to be able to share some good news on World Ranger Day. The RangerCare initiative is going from strength to strength and helps keep rangers safe in the field. Mental wellbeing is also important and initiatives to give rangers the recognition they deserve like the Rhino Conservation Awards are very important in boosting morale. This week we announced the finalists of this year’s awards and their incredible contributions to conservation are inspiring to us all. We are also extremely proud to be an organising partner of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge once again which will support over 5000 rangers as they grapple with the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.” added Campbell.
Those wanting to contribute to the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa’s efforts to improve ranger safety and wellbeing can do so via the donation tab on our website. Click here.
To all our rangers colleagues across the globe, today is your day.
Happy World Ranger Day.
Over 90 rangers from 12 countries participated in the 2nd African Ranger Congress in Kasane, Botswana, from 14 -18 September 2022. It was organised by the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa (GRAA), endorsed by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and supported by The Thin Green Line Foundation, Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA) and the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.
The Congress attracted rangers working for government, NGOs and community organisations from across Africa. It was a Congress by rangers, for rangers and about rangers that built networks, camaraderie, morale and celebrated ranger achievements during the African Conservation Awards.
We, the rangers of the African Ranger Congress, are committed to furthering the professionalisation of rangers which builds on the IRF Chitwan declaration and the URSA Action Plan. Whilst acknowledging previous commitments made, we call for the following actions to be undertaken by the global community and for them to hear our voices and help address our needs for the benefit of people and wildlife.
Increased advocacy, representation and recognition of the ranger sector:
- Acknowledgement that the GRAA, as the IRF regional ranger representative body, be recognised as an independent point of reference for rangers that sets acceptable standards for the ranger sector using the best available knowledge.
- Being guided by professionalism, the GRAA commits to acting with consequential responsibility, ethical dependency and integrity when interacting with the IRF, IUCN, URSA, national and international bodies for the benefit of rangers.
Improved and sustained ranger sector capacity building:
- Recognition and support to build and sustain ranger sector capacity whilst creating a professional, effective and resilient ranger corps with the necessary safeguards in place.
- We ask that the leadership potential amongst all rangers is recognised, and developed to ensure accountability and inspire the ranger corps towards a common purpose.
Better employment conditions and welfare:
- Action to enhance ranger employment and welfare conditions, improving pride, trust and resiliency amongst the ranger workforce.
- Improvement in support structures for all rangers including government, community and private sector rangers to improve their wellbeing - these should include, but not be limited to medical and life insurance schemes, legal support, trauma response for medical emergencies and professional counselling services, to support rangers and their families.
- Ensure greater recognition for the families of rangers, acknowledgement of their support to rangers and establish systems to improve their wellbeing.
- Respect and acknowledgement of the rights of all rangers to job security, fair remuneration, career development and progression as a way to improve resiliency against demoralisation and corruption.
Greater equality and equity in the ranger profession:
- Realisation that equality can only be achieved in the ranger profession when fair and just conditions are available to all rangers. Recognition of the capabilities of all rangers, regardless of culture, race, religion, gender, and education to ensure equal opportunities for all.
Improved community relations, ranger conduct and accountability:
- We urge all organisations employing rangers (including governments, NGOs and community organisations) to adapt, adopt and implement the IRF Code of Conduct to improve ranger conduct and accountability. We note that the rights of rangers should also be known and respected at all times.
- Acknowledgement that rangers are not separate from communities and that they often come from local communities surrounding the conservation areas in which they work.
- The creation of an atmosphere where communities see rangers as family through rangers’ good values as they conduct their critical and diverse work professionally, responsibly and accountably in a way that respects human rights.
For more information on the African Ranger Congress please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The African Ranger Congress was made possible by the following organisations and initiatives: GRAA, The Thin Green Line Foundation, International Ranger Federation, Wildlife Ranger Challenge, Universal Ranger Support Alliance, and the African Conservation Awards.
The inaugural African Ranger Congress Declaration can be found here.