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The Park Law Enforcement Association's purpose is to improve law enforcement, visitor protection and park operation services through professional development to assure a better quality of life and leisure opportunities and experiences in local, state and national park and recreation areas.

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CONFERENCES

Conference training sessions are designed to address current trends in park law enforcement and visitor protection. Field trips provide a personal experience to see firsthand how other agencies are managing daily operations and special events. This is an excellent opportunity to meet other park professionals from across the country and learn from each other.

AWARDS

The Park Law Enforcement Association Awards & Scholarship program recognizes the outstanding work and accomplishments of men and woman in the park law enforcement profession throughout North America. We encourage nominations of deserving officers and agencies.

MEMBERSHIP

The Park Law Enforcement Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the park law enforcement and conservation profession through specialized development, thus improving the quality of life and leisure opportunities in and around local, state and national park and recreation areas.

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NEWSLETTER MARCH 2022

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Any ranger that has been fortunate enough to attend an International Ranger Federation (IRF) World Ranger Congress (WRC), will know that one of the most interesting aspects of the event is meeting and learning about other rangers. The learning is that rangers, and the sector as a whole, is diverse. Although diversity creates complexities, we should embrace diversity. It is for this reason that 'diversity' has been selected as the theme for World Ranger Day 2022. It is all encompassing - diversity in the geographies, topographies and altitudes in which rangers work, the diversity of life and ecosystems that rangers conserve and the diversity of a ranger as a female/indigenous or youth rangers. Let us use this opportunity to showcase ranger diversity as the strength of the sector.
 
It will not be long now until the next IRF World Ranger Congress. We see an easing of travel restrictions, which hopefully will result in the many regional ranger congresses taking place in the second half of this year. I encourage all rangers to participate in these as they contribute significantly to the building of regional structures; but also start planning for the 10th IRF WRC. Rangers and respective associations also need to start thinking about the administrative and governance side of the IRF WRC. The sum of strong regional representation in IRF structures adds value to the whole. 
 
The IRF is in the final stages of developing a first ever strategy after many interviews with a diversity of stakeholders. This strategy is aimed at putting the organisation in the best position to advance the actions outlined in the Chitwan Declaration and all those preceding it. This is much needed to help focus the IRF’s work as the global ranger body and to become the voice for rangers, and a strong one at that. 
 
The effects of geopolitics on rangers is not new, but when it threatens rangers’ lives, their families and their livelihoods, we all become concerned. We hear harrowing stories from rangers, where we often feel powerless to act. This must be one of the most frustrating aspects of the work of IRF and its partners, where we so wish to help every ranger in need. However, we do hope that any ranger in such positions takes comfort in knowing that there is a whole ranger network that does care. Protected areas are seen as refuge sites for wild animals but through COVID and in war situations in particular, it seems that they are also sites of refuge for humans.
 
I would finally like to thank all the rangers that have participated in many different aspects of the IRF’s work in recent times. These have included being presenters on webinars, filling in research surveys and being available for interviews related to ranger research or for the strategy development. This is so important and know that it takes time to be involved, but the work is essential in building the picture of rangers for the world to see, and to help guide the expanding work of the IRF. It is also a way of helping bridge the knowledge flow from a ‘boots on the ground’ site specific ranger level to a global platform, and it is a way of keeping the membership involved and participatory.
 
There will be more requests to come, as we compile the first ever State of the Ranger Report, so please continue the involvement so that this report is about rangers, by rangers.

MEMBERSHIP DUES

The Board of the International Ranger Federation (IRF) has voted to commence the collection of its annual membership subscription (dues) as per the IRF’s Constitution.

The Full Member dues of USD200 were approved by the members in the new Constitution adopted at the 2019 World Ranger Congress (WRC) held in Nepal. It was again discussed during the IRF’s first Annual General Meeting (held online) in August 2021.Also, as written in the Constitution, the Board adopted fees for Associate members in the Regulations at their last meeting (USD50).  

The Board feels that it is the right time to start this dues collection process, as there is an enormous amount of work ahead of the Federation, including the establishment of the IRF Strategy, the delivery of its many objectives as well as strengthening the support of its membership base. These goals can only be achieved by increasing the organization’s financial security to ensure it remains a strong voice for members into the future.

The payment of annual membership subscriptions and fees can be waived upon request. It will be possible for member associations, who are willing and financially able, to support fellow members to pay their fees. We will provide options in the membership payment form for this to occur. The dues membership payment order form and payment information can be found on the IRF website at:  https://www.internationalrangers.org/membership-dues/

As this is the first time the IRF has undertaken dues collection, there will be some organizational matters to work through as we establish a smooth transition into this new process. We ask for your patience and understanding as we all navigate through it.  Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to bringing future projects to you that will help further enhance and consolidate the worldwide ranger network. For any questions, please contact Executive Officer Carlien Roodt at: executiveofficer@internationalrangers.org.

WORLD RANGER DAY 2022

Get ready and get planning!

It is with great anticipation that we are approaching World Ranger Day on the 31st of July. 

On World Ranger Day, we celebrate the critical work that rangers do on a daily basis around the globe. Their tireless work to protect our planet's habitats, species and natural resources whilst nurturing local communities is vital to all our futures. On this day we also commemorate those rangers killed or injured whilst protecting our natural and cultural heritage. Globally, we are facing a biodiversity and climate crises of epic proportions. Imagine how much worse these crises would be if rangers did not put their lives on the line to protect this planet we call home?

The World Ranger Day Theme this year is: DIVERSITY.

Rangers are no strangers to diversity. Diversity creates complexities, but we should look to embrace diversity, as we do in the natural world. It is for this reason that 'diversity' has been selected as the theme for World Ranger Day 2022. It is all encompassing, as it includes:

  • diversity in the geographies – celebrating the places on the planet where rangers work and interact with landscapes and communities;
  • topographies and altitudes in which rangers work – the diversity of terrains and climates;
  • the diversity of life and ecosystems on land and ocean that rangers conserve;
  • the conservation and management of a diversity of cultural, historic heritage and living resources;
  • the diversity of people that make up the ranger sector - such as gender, culture, looks and age of rangers;
  • the diversity of skills needed or developed by rangers to carry out their tasks;
  • the diversity of equipment used and support provided to rangers;
  • diversity of ranger roles and titles;
  • diversity of the organisations rangers work at (e.g. federal or local government, NGO, volunteer, IPLCs).

The IRF, in collaboration with The Thin Green Line Foundation (TGLF) and the Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA) will be supporting our member ranger associations again this year with a World Ranger Day Pack that will include promotional material to assist all associations to celebrate their rangers and to spread the message as widely as possible. Please keep an eye out for this World Ranger Day Pack in early July.

ROLL OF HONOUR

The Period for Recording Line of Duty Deaths Has Changed
To date, the months for recording Line of Duty Deaths in advance of World Ranger Day has been between 1st July to 30th June each year.
To allow more time for accurate verification of details before World Ranger Day, the months for recording Line of Duty Deaths in the years ahead will be from 1st June to 31st May each year.
The Guidelines for finding and recording Line of Duty Death Information as well as the reporting form can be found here: https://www.internationalrangers.org/meet-our-rangers/#roll-of-honour.

STATE OF THE RANGER REPORT

Image credit: Chris Galliers

A first global report on the ranger profession worldwide:
 
The International Ranger Federation (IRF), is leading the development of the first ever report on the global state of the ranger profession, which will be published at the next IRF World Ranger Congress in the Azores, Portugal, in June 2023.

What?
The report will be the first global baseline of where the ranger profession currently stands, including the assimilation of the best available, internationally comparable data on the ranger workforce.
The framework of the report is based on the IRF declarations from each of the nine World Ranger Congresses, which are the most relevant meetings for the ranger sector. The framework of the report includes the following sections:

  • Ranger data demographics
  • Ranger welfare
  • Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs)
  • Inclusivity  
  • Capacity
  • Ranger associations and recognition.

Sources will include rangers, employers, ranger associations and community members of IPLCs that interact with rangers on a day-to-day basis.

When?
The State of the Ranger Report will be published every 3-4 years during the IRF World Ranger Congress. This will allow the comparison of data with previous reports in order to track the level of progress against the global efforts and investments to improve the ranger sector. This will focus on the effectiveness of the implementation of the URSA Action Plan.

Why?
We know now that rangers play a key role as planetary health professionals in the current biodiversity and climate crisis. While keeping nature safe and healthy, they ensure the provision of essential services to humanity, such as clean water and air, as well as food, among others. They also fulfill many other activities linked to their profession: law enforcement, developing and maintaining trusting and respectful dialogue and relationships with key stakeholders, providing education and awareness for communities, visitors and the younger generation, monitoring and researching wildlife, habitats, and features of cultural and historical importance, managing and controlling environmental risks, and providing assistance during emergencies.
 
Despite the significant value to humanity and the environment, the work of rangers is not recognized as a profession by the International Labour Organization. The report aims to raise the profile of rangers, their role as an essential planetary service so that it gets the much-needed support it deserves.

Some key information gaps to be filled by the report:

  • What are the key risks and threats linked to the profession that should be addressed?
  • Are rangers adequately equipped and capacitated to carry out their duties?
  • How do they interact with indigenous people and local communities?
  • Are there mechanisms in place to ensure equal opportunities and no discrimination?
  • What kind of training are they provided with and is it actually relevant?
  • Do rangers see value in being members of ranger associations?
  • How recognized is the profession in their countries?

How?
The IRF, with the support of Re:wild, through the URSA partnership, has provided initial funding to kick-off the project. To date, the framework and indicators have been developed through a participative and collaborative process among rangers, highly experienced professionals from NGOs and academic institutions which conform the action group of the report. A wider advisory committee has also been established, which will provide oversight of the process and advice to the action group.

Next Step:
In the upcoming months, the IRF will distribute the ranger surveys through our member associations database. Questionnaires will be available in multiple languages. Stay tuned and be part of this project, make sure to participate. Every ranger voice counts!

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE WORLD COMMISSION ON PROETECTED AREAS OF IUCN?

The World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) is the premier network of 2500 experts from 140 countries that mobilizes action in science, conservation, policy, and engagement to support well managed and connected parks and other protected areas. WCPA is also a founder member of the Universal Ranger Support Alliance ursa4rangers.org  

The Commission develops knowledge-based policy, advice, and guidance on the full suite of issues surrounding protected areas through the establishment of specialist groups and taskforces. It brings together global experts to find solutions for programme priorities, including global protected area standards and best practice guidelines.

Interested in becoming a member?
Becoming a member as an individual is voluntary.
Here you can find all the information about the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and how to get involved: https://www.iucn.org/commissions/world-commission-protected-areas/get-involved

RANGER ROUNDTABLE FOCUS SESSIONS AND WEBINARS

Image credit: Maryory Velado, courtesy of Paso Pacifico & The Thin Green Line Foundation

On the 24th of February the International Ranger Federation, in collaboration with The Thin Green Line Foundation and the Universal Ranger Support Alliance hosted the 7th Ranger Roundtable Focus Session with the theme: What roles do rangers play in rural community development?
 
A very productive discussion was held and some of the themes that were raised by participants from global development and conservation organisations were that rangers are a source of pride, security, human-wildlife conflict management, sustainable development education, government-mainstream-indigenous community links, basic rations, first aid, employment pathways and tourism.
A special thanks to our guest speakers:
- Annabelle Trinidad, UNDP-BIOFIN
- Dilys Roe, IIED, IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods
- Ranger Daniel Ole Sambu, Big Life Foundation
- Ranger Torfi Stefán Jónsson, Þingvellir National Park, Iceland
 
This builds upon the collective purpose of repositioning Rangers as essential frontline workers. For more information on the Ranger Roundtable –https://www.internationalrangers.org/events/

THE THIN GREEN LINE FOUNDATION

Image credit: Ranger in Umphang-Thung Yai National Park, Thailand, wearing new uniforms supplied by The Thin Green Line Foundation. 

It’s been a busy start to the new year for rangers, and that means a busy start to the year for The Thin Green Line Foundation too!
 
In the past two months, we’ve provided support to rangers across the globe, from assisting the Ecuador Ranger Association purchase a new patrol boat, to providing new uniforms for the Friends of Arabuko Sokoke Forest Community Scouts in Kenya. We’re also supporting the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, which aims to assist anti-poaching patrols across Africa and we’re working with the Brazilian Ranger Association to help indigenous rangers in the Amazon rainforest to buy uniforms and equipment that supports their work to protect some of the last untouched rainforest on earth.
 
In another exciting project, we have worked closely with Patagonia and Global Conservation to send high quality uniforms to rangers in Africa, Asia, and Central America. To date, the Thin Green Line Foundation team has sent approximately 1000 items of uniform out to the field since July 2021. This project would not have been possible without the support of our project partners, former IRF Secretary Jewel Johnson and the Californian Rangers, and our dedicated volunteers. We’re proud to work within such a collaborative network that helps us to strengthen our impact and expedite support to rangers in remote locations.

RANGER ASSOCIATION STUDY UPDATE

Data collection for the research study on ranger associations is now complete. The research team would like to thank everyone who assisted with data collection, as well as everyone who participated in interviews or online surveys.  Your responses and knowledge are valuable and will play a vital role in shaping the future role of ranger associations! The research team looks forward to analyzing the data, and eventually sharing our findings with the ranger community.

UNIVERSAL RANGER SUPPORT ALLIANCE

This past week, 3 members of the International Ranger Federation team attended the inaugural in-person Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA) meeting at the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge. This was a direct result of the Chitwan Declaration and the need to develop and implement a global action plan for rangers.

FORCE FOR NATURE APP

The Ranger App by Force For Nature is continuing to develop and we are so excited to share our newest feature with you: The Ranger App Events Calendar. This is the number one place to find out about ranger events going on online and in person all around the world. Here you can access all the details about the event, links to buy tickets/ attend the event, and the ability to connect the event into your own phone or computer calendar so you don’t miss it! If you or your ranger organization is hosting any events, please get in touch and we can share the event on our calendar for you (contact jemima.lomax@forcefornature.org).

The Ranger App is the best place to connect and learn from rangers all around the world. It is now available in four languages: English, French, Spanish and German, with many more coming shortly. Chat with rangers from all around the world through our chat function, post about your work and life in the stories section, and continue to learn and develop through the education platform.

You can download and join the Ranger App through the links below; we look forward to welcoming you:

iOS users: 
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/force-for-nature-ranger-app/id1500872174

Android users: 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imgzine.ffn&hl=en

Also available as a webapp: 
https://rangerapp.forcefornature.org

INDIGENOUS STATE RANGER PROJECT

IRF is collaborating with the University of Central Florida in the Indigenous Ranger Project. The purpose of this research is to examine the experiences and perceptions of indigenous rangers who are tasked with conservation management and monitoring efforts. We are looking for indigenous rangers hired by governments that have experience in working on the front-line of protected area management and monitoring. Results will be available when completed.
 
Requirements to participate (must fit all of the following criteria)

  • Be a ranger who self-identifies to be indigenous/aboriginal.
  • Be a ranger currently hired by federal, state, or local government.
  • Be a ranger who is responsible for front-line conservation management and monitoring efforts.
  • Be 18 years of age or older.

How to participate in the study?

  • You will participate in an interview with a translator of your language.
  • This interview will take place in a setting of your choosing and will be completed online.
  • The interview is expected to range from 30-60 minutes.
  • Interviews will be audio and/or video recorded, however, you can choose if you want to be audio and/or video recorded.
  • Your responses will be kept confidential; however, some identifiable private information will be collected, including your age, gender, and current place of employment.
  • This information will be kept along with the interview data and only the research team will have access to this information.

If you fit this criteria, we strongly suggest participating! Your experience is important for this study. If interested, please contact. william.moreto@ucf.edu.

UPDATES FROM THE REGIONS

AFRICA

The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) is happy to announce that the GRAA AGM and 2nd African Ranger Congress (ARC) will take place from 14 to 18 September 2022 in Kasane, Botswana. Even though 2 years later than initially planned, we will take the opportunity to celebrate the GRAA founding in 1970 and celebrate its 50th anniversary. We had to delay the event for the past 2 years due to the COVID pandemic so we look forward to finally be able to come together, celebrate, delve into ranger issues and share in experiences with members and rangers from across the continent.  We have some exciting announcements to make in due course, so stay tuned for more information. The 1st African Ranger Congress, held in 2018, was a great success, bringing over 100 rangers from 15 different African countries together to share their experiences. Learnings from the event were taken to the World Ranger Congress in Nepal in 2019, ensuring Africa's rangers’ voice was heard at a global level. The first ever African Ranger Declaration was also developed at the ARC. This declaration documents the serious challenges and limitations rangers face, and calls for action to enable rangers to efficiently and effectively carry out their duties. The ARC was endorsed by the International Ranger Federation and supported by the Thin Green Line Foundation. The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) coordinated the event. The outcomes of the 2nd ARC will be taken to the World Ranger Congress in Azores, Portugal in June 2023.

If you would like more information about the event, please get in touch with the GRAA: info@gameranger.org  

LATIN AMERICA

Image credit: Establishing Alliances - Werhner Atoche Montoya 

Establishing Alliances.
Ing. Juan Otivo Mesa, coordinator of the northern zone of the NGO, AIDER, met with the South American representative of the International Ranger Federation, Mr. Werhner Atoche, Ranger of the Cerros de Amotape National Park, to coordinate actions with the official park rangers and volunteers from North Peru. AIDER is a leading organization in environmental conservation and sustainable development in Peru, which has 29 years of work and experience promoting the management of forest resources and social responsibilities of small producers in native communities and hamlets.
 
AIDER's objective is to conserve and sustainably use the forests of Peru in harmony with the conventions on biological diversity, climate change and the fight against desertification and drought.

Image credit: International Ranger Course Program - Werhner Atoche Montoya 

International Course Ranger Program
The course will provide the tools for the management of protected natural areas from the point of view of the park rangers.
It is with great enthusiasm that we started the International Park Ranger Program Course with an interesting group of professionals who are committed to strengthening their knowledge and understanding of new and emerging natural area conservation tools. Welcome everyone!

Purpose:
This first international course seeks to awaken, understand and generate basic skills for the use of tools for the management of protected natural areas.

Duration:
The course consists of five modules. Each module includes recorded sessions for each topic and one live session that will be used to provide feedback and/or resolve doubts, queries, and voice opinions.

Image credit: The board of directors of the Association of Park Rangers of Peru, together with the South American Representative of the International Ranger Federation (IRF), Werhner Atoche Montoya. 

The board of directors of the Association of Park Rangers of Peru, together with the South American Representative of the International Ranger Federation (IRF), Werhner Atoche Montoya, met with the park ranger's brother Ing. Michael de la Cadena Goering, Executive Director of PRONATURALEZA.
The Peruvian Foundation for the Conservation of Nature executes actions for the sustainable management of renewable natural resources, ensuring the conservation of protected natural areas and processes related to the conservation of Peru's biodiversity. In this framework, it has been supporting the association of park rangers of Peru, in the creation of the park ranger law.
Topics discussed were on strengthening capacities of ranger personnel through instruction, advice, and management to formulate projects in favor of rangers and events aimed, particularly at female rangers, and their empowerment in the protection of natural protected areas.

Image credit:  Werhner Atoche Montoya. 

In the village of El Tutumo - Matapalo
 

AIDER, and the Association for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of the Angostura Faical Regional Conservation Area, plan and establish agreements to strengthen surveillance and control actions in the Angostura Faical ACR and in the Cerros de Amotape National Park, as well as for the development of productive enterprises in the buffer zones.
 
#Amotapes Mangrove Northwest Biosphere Reserve
#SERNANP-AIDER Administration Contract

Ranger grant support:
The US Ranger Foundation has supported park rangers in Latin America for several years in the following ways:

  • Grants for death in the line of duty
  • COVID-19 death grants
  • Equipment grants
  • Support to park rangers
  • Finance Latin Americans to attend World Ranger Congresses.

The Ranger Foundation (RF) does not use a grant form at this time. Subsidy applications can simply be made by mail. We would appreciate you coordinating enquiries with the IRF Regional Representatives Werhner Atoche Montoya werhner2016@gmail.com for South America and Leonel Delgado centralamerica@internationalrangers.org from Central America.
For COVID-19 grants, applications must include documentation that the individual worked for a protected area and include a copy of the COVID-19 death certificate. COVID-19 grants do not require that the COVID-19 death was work-related.
For death in the line of duty grants, the process is the same, except there must be documentation showing that the death occurred in the line of duty. This documentation is normally an official statement from the agency and/or official announcements or articles regarding the cause of death while working as a park ranger.

After the Ranger Foundation board approves a grant, the specific banking information of the family member receiving the grant will be requested (so payment can be made). RF grants are for US$500.
Learn more about Ranger Supports.
wehrner2016@gmail.com / centralamerica@internationalrangers.org

EUROPE

Image credit:  European Ranger Federation

Success with Funding Bid!
Due to very limited financial resources and reliance on volunteers who are already engaged in full time environmental jobs, the ERF has been severely limited in what it can achieve to help support the associations in its region.

However, efforts have finally paid off with the recent announcement that Greenpeace have accepted our funding bid and will give 50,000 euros per year, over the next 3 years and a further 9,500 euros in 2022, to support an image campaign.

This is wonderful news, and our thanks go largely to Michael Grossman who has used his influence and contacts to pursue this bid. He has also agreed to join the ERF Board as Training Officer following a vacancy when our new Acting President, Urs Reif, left this position open.

The money will enable the board to appoint one part time ERF Development Officer; help us organise the forthcoming European Ranger Congress in Albania, including our first face to face meeting of the board; provide training opportunities, and, enable us to offer financial assistance to less well-off rangers to attend the congress and/or other training events. There will also be a focus on developing junior ranger programmes.

The image campaign will possibly include a short-term contract to enable the upgrading of the existing ERF website and to promote activities via social media. There remains a need to look at long term financial support for the ERF, but this announcement is very exciting and will enable a firm footing from which to grow in the future.
 
MOU with UK TGLF
It has been a great experience working with Abi Irving who heads up the UK branch of the Thin Green Line Foundation which covers the whole of Europe. She has been very encouraging of the ERF and following a meeting with some of the IRF Board it was decided that an Memorandum of Understanding would be a good way forward as mutual support for both organisations.
This has recently been signed and will enable ERF to apply for funding to support both the congress and training opportunities; specifically to help encourage less fortunate ranger services in Europe to attend these events, who would otherwise struggle, financially.     
 
Project Georgian Rangers/CMA (England/Wales and Northern Ireland) Rangers!
On an even more positive note, the ranger exhibition portraying photographs of rangers at work in Georgia and the UK has been a great success and well received. This came about following an initial idea to twin the two countries’ ranger associations which may still happen in the future. In the meantime, however, Maia and Chloe, the representatives from the two countries, have built up a great relationship and have come up with a variety of ideas to share knowledge and experience. It’s a wonderful initiative and will no doubt flourish.

On 14th September the Georgian Ranger Association organized a photo exhibition ‘Rangers – Defenders of Wildlife’, in Telavi, Georgia where photos of the Georgian and British rangers taken in the line of duty, were presented (see below).

This is the first joint project of the Georgian Ranger Association and Countryside Management Association, which serves to popularize the ranger profession, raise environmental awareness and promotes partnership among Georgian and British rangers.

The exhibition was attended by representatives of local and international organizations working in Telavi, as well as guests from the UK and other countries. The sponsor of the exhibition was Caucasian House.

Image credit:  European Ranger Federation

Additionally, the British schoolchildren prepared and sent the presentation about their activities and nature.
https://georangerassociation.blogspot.com/2022/02/british-georgian-school-project_23.html
 
https://georangerassociation.blogspot.com/2022/02/british-georgian-school-project.html
They are waiting for the questions from Georgian children to prepare the answers.
As for the GRA Facebook closed group, in a period of about 6 months, it has gained over 1700 members including rangers, officials from the ministry and agencies of protected areas, forestry, foresters, foreign friends, (poachers and hunters) and nature lovers. The group offers photos, videos, and information about Georgian nature, protected areas and species as well as interesting facts about world nature. 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/146764947561216
 
In Spring, the Georgian Ranger Association, with the support of its US friends (Former President of the US Ranger Association, Ken Mabery and his friends), made plans to arrange a field library for the rangers of Vashlovani Protected Areas. They are on duty for up to 6 days in the semi-desert area without any communication, so it was decided to buy some useful and interesting books to make their evenings more cheerful!

Image credit:  European Ranger Federation

War in Ukraine
The EEC got together very quickly to try and direct the wishes made by many European rangers, to do something positive to help the rangers and those trying to protect nature, in Ukraine.

The letter below was sent to our associations to encourage financial support to an organisation that is already making a difference on the ground and we will review this as things continue to develop.  
 
#StandWithUkraine                       
#RangersWithoutBorders


A Call to All European Rangers 
As a result of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the European Ranger Federation (ERF) has been building up contacts and trying to find ways to support Ukraine, especially the Ukrainian rangers and those still working in nature protection.

There are many ways that you can support the humanitarian aid going to Ukraine but ERF, along with the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and The Thin Green Line Foundation (TGLF), are specifically asking for your financial support to help those still trying to protect nature. Please share the information below within your national associations, with your fellow rangers and within your communities. Together we can make a difference to those suffering at this time.

The ERF is calling for donations to enable us to support rangers working on the front line in Ukraine’s protected areas. This work will be supported by logistical assistance from rangers in neighbouring European countries to Ukraine, and other border regions, to ensure the aid reaches Ukrainian rangers directly. 

Following direct discussions with the Ministry of Environment and conservation NGOs in Ukraine, we have been advised that our aims can best be fulfilled by directly connecting with, and channeling our support through the German Europarc Federation and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS). These two organisations already have established networks and connections with protected areas in Ukraine. For more information on their work, please see the FZS web site here: https://fzs.org/en/support/emergency-support-for-protected-areas-in-the-carpathians/

The FZS is organising donations and buying much needed goods including bullet-proof vests, personal protective equipment, helmets, first aid kits and radios. FZS coordination on these aspects is more effective than multiple organisations collecting goods from different places. The ERF is also assisting in organising transport routes and delivery chains via rangers in the area. 

The FSZ is also collecting donations with a view to supporting these protected areas in the medium to longer term to enable rebuilding when the current conflict has ended. So, your donations to FSZ will help now, as well as in the future. 

Please step up for Ukraine, for nature and for our fellow rangers in Ukraine.

VIEW THIS NEWSLETTER IN SPANISH OR FRENCH

To view this Newsletter in Spanish, follow this link:
https://mailchi.mp/35445755584d/boletin-marzo-2022-spanish

To view this Newsletter in French, follow this link:
https://mailchi.mp/a37952035ae2/bulletin-dinformation-mars-2022-french

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