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Leading the Way – LEAD Ranger Celebrates its Positive Impact

January 23, 2025

Thin Green Line is a founding partner of LEAD Ranger, an innovative train-the-trainer program which upskills the ranger workforce, and their leadership, with competencies to protect themselves, wildlife, natural areas, and support surrounding communities. In 2024, LEAD Ranger has produced 166 ranger instructors – more than double that of previous years!

Graduates of this unique program have enhanced capabilities and return to their teams as confident and qualified instructors equipped with a very special set of skills.

Training covers bushcraft and patrol techniques, with a large focus on field first-aid to ensure that those rangers working in dangerous conditions can respond to emergency situations that arise while on patrol. Critically, graduates are also upskilled in leadership and teaching skills, enabling them to share their knowledge and embed training skills within their own organisations.

This year, we conducted an independent review of the LEAD Ranger program to assess its broader impact and identify opportunities for improvement. We’re thrilled to share that the program is not only meeting its objectives but is also receiving glowing feedback from graduates and representatives of the organizations we’ve supported, highlighting its remarkable success.

Participants and management at South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO) and Big Life Foundation in Kenya reported that LEAD Ranger can do what no other training does.

“The LEAD training has empowered local rangers to train others, resulting in in-house training and development of the workforce. We have trainers who can teach LEAD in the local language, so no one is left behind.”  – SORALO Management

“Our rangers would not have been able to get to where they are if it were not for the LEAD program…it has helped them grow and leapfrog beyond their wildest dreams” – SORALO Management

Big Life Foundation has restructured and revitalized its workforce training program, now delivering all training internally through LEAD graduates. This shift has resulted in more rangers receiving frequent, high-quality training, while also reducing costs that can be redirected towards vital conservation programs. The program’s inclusive approach has been praised for enabling rangers with little to no formal education to actively participate and succeed, further strengthening the foundation’s efforts.

“A 50-year-old ranger, who is illiterate and has never been to formal school, is our best ranger. He does not speak Swahili or English, only the Maasai language. He did the LEAD training and is now a Senior Sergeant. He has saved 3 people’s lives and is consistently the top ranger through his leadership, number of arrests and care of other rangers. He is one of the best first aid rangers that we have.” – Big Life Foundation Management

Rangers are trained using simulated emergency situations

The impact of this program extends far beyond the immediate beneficiaries. Rangers have shared that, since participating in LEAD Ranger, there has been a noticeable shift in community attitudes—both towards the rangers themselves and the wildlife they work tirelessly to protect. This change reflects the program’s broader influence on fostering respect and understanding within the communities they serve.

“Before the program, our community members were dying from injuries – now we mingle with them, support them, and sometimes even save their lives. First aid was something we did not know – we can now help our community and our friends” – Big Life Foundation Ranger

“LEAD is a unique opportunity that has changed the lives of rangers and saved over 20 lives of community members” – SORALO Management

“A young man was attacked and trampled on by an elephant and was critically injured. He was lucky to be alive when the community members found him and called the rangers. The LEAD trainer rangers stabilised him by stopping the bleeding and then called for an air ambulance. Three months after the incident, we were able to go back to the community who shared a testimony that the rangers had saved his life. This incident played a huge role in the trust and respect we now have between the rangers and community members, who declared their ongoing support for the work we do.” – SORALO Ranger

“Previously, before LEAD Ranger training, when a wild animal killed livestock…community members would go on a rampage, killing any animals on sight indiscriminately. Now, we have room to negotiate and discuss with the community because there is trust between the rangers and the community.” – SORALO Community Ambassador

“(Through ongoing conservation work), animal numbers have increased significantly. Reduced poaching is largely due to the collaboration, partnership, and trust between the rangers and the community.” – SORALO Ranger

With numerous examples of positive feedback, it’s clear that LEAD Ranger training is not only meeting but exceeding expectations. The program is delivering benefits that extend well beyond wildlife protection. All rangers interviewed highlighted how the training has greatly enhanced their skills, knowledge, competence, and confidence, equipping them to face challenges with greater effectiveness and inspiring a deep sense of pride in their work.

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LEAD Ranger was established by Ranger Campus, Akashinga and Thin Green Line.

LEAD’s Coach Ranger Life Savers (CRLS) course is a four-week entry-level course that provides rangers with essential first-aid skills and prepares them for emergency situations in remote areas. Skills gained through CRLS have prepared rangers to respond to medical emergencies and have resulted in the lives of multiple rangers and community members being saved.

LEAD also runs a Field Ranger Instructor course, an intensive four-month program that develops rangers’ understanding of their roles, building confidence to perform advanced tasks including patrol planning, wildlife crime investigation, and managing people in protected areas.

Thank you to the independent facilitators who coordinated the review of LEAD Ranger, and to the participants and conservation organisations who contributed their valuable insights and feedback.

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We believe the practical, direct action of rangers is the most necessary and effective way to overcome the environmental challenges of our time. Thin Green Line is a global not-for-profit conservation organisation.