Global Strength in Unity: Rangers Come Together at the World Ranger Congress

Members of our team also attended the Congress, providing us with an unrivalled opportunity to meet rangers in person and discuss the issues they are facing in their important work. From these engagements, we refreshed our understanding of what it means to be a ‘ranger’ in the post-Covid world. Now, more than ever, the climate crisis and biodiversity loss are at the forefront of these conversations, but instead of feeling hopeless, rangers are brimming with energy and enthusiasm about how they can make a difference in their protected areas. The theme of this Congress was the 30 by 30 target – a worldwide initiative to protect 30% of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030.

“[30 by 30 targets] cannot be achieved without rangers. So, we need more rangers on the ground, and then you say boots on the ground, it’s just not boots on the ground, it’s the whole package! So if we take care of our rangers, they’ll naturally take care of our planet.” – Alice Chimbini, Zambia

Through the course of a week, we witnessed a thousand friendships being made, solutions and partnerships being developed, and hope being nurtured. The World Ranger Congress provides a learning opportunity for rangers to share vital information about environmental protection, to allow continuous improvement and more effective use of resources.

“A Congress like this is for me, it’s a learning part of the job as well. You get to mingle with people who have different experience in their jobs, and you get to learn” – Boniphace Haule, Tanzania

Opportunities like this are few and far between for rangers, especially those working in some of the world’s most remote and ecologically important landscapes, but they are critical. These gatherings serve as space for rangers to build community which supports them as they face some of the world’s most pressing challenges. A recurring theme of many of the conversations related to ranger welfare and mental health.

“Ranger mental health is a critical issue. Feelings of isolation and as if we’re not succeeding – it’s almost a feeling of hopelessness. These messages of hope (at the Congress), and everyone you chat to, they inspire, and they create hope “ – Corey Jeal, Zambia.

When asked about her experience of the Congress, Ranger Amy Nielsen from New Zealand shared, “You can feel like you’re fighting this little battle inside your own little space, which can often feel overwhelming. So, for us to come here and meet so many people, I think the connections have been massive. I think these congresses are a place where we can extend our mindset and make connections so that we don’t feel like we’re trapped in a bubble.”