It takes a diverse set of rangers to protect biodiversity

Explore the diversity found in the ranger work field and their role in conserving our planet’s biodiversity

Whether you know them as rangers, wildlife officers, or forest guides, these individuals all work to conserve the natural world. The role of rangers, the places they work, and the individuals themselves are incredibly diverse. However, the general perception of rangers is often militarized which is a very narrow view of the work rangers do and the diverse community they represent. This perception can hugely undermine their value. For rangers to do their job productively and effectively, they need to be valued and recognized. Although we are beginning to learn about the diversity of rangers and their roles, we must continue these efforts in order to better support rangers around the world.

The world’s most biodiverse areas also share a home with Indigenous and rural communities. According to recent global analysis, at least 32% of global land is owned or governed by Indigenous peoples and local communities and contains around 80% of the world’s biodiversity.

For generations, Indigenous peoples have used their unique knowledge of their environment to develop ways to sustainably manage it. Even today, these communities continue to conserve our planet’s biodiversity. The Life on the Frontline Report-2019 shows that 36% of the rangers come from within a 20km radius of the conservation area they are protecting. However, indigenous rangers continue to remain unrecognized and underappreciated. Supporting these communities’ cultural authority is vital for conserving the world’s biodiversity.

In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a long standing connection with the coastline which is critical for the area’s conservation. For Eddie Smallwood, aka Uncle Eddie, the environment holds a special place for him and his ancestors. Uncle Eddie has worked as a ranger for nine years and currently leads the Gudjuda Reference Group, a team of Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers.

Although the Gudjuda Reference Group is known for their open water turtle chases, where they catch and tag wild turtles in order to gather data, their work is incredibly diverse. The Gudjuda team conducts research on marine species, monitors seagrass and waterways, and works to revegetate key areas. Uncle Eddie’s team also runs a ranger program that focuses on education for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

“We’re marrying up education and science with cultural knowledge, and we actually show our rangers our storylines and our sites. They’re part of it now too, and they’re helping protect our Country,” says Uncle Eddie.

For over 10 years, WWF has worked directly with Traditional Owners and Indigenous rangers to support their efforts in conserving the Sea Country’s biodiversity. Gudjuda has tagged and released over 1,000 green turtles as part of the ‘Turtle Rescue Mission’ with support from WWF. Uncle Eddie and the Gudjuda Reference Group hope to inspire Indigenous rangers and communities across the globe.

According to URSA’s Towards Gender Equality In The Ranger Workforce report, only 3% to 11% of the ranger workforce is female. Since women and men have a diverse knowledge of biodiversity, evidence shows that having a gender balance in the ranger workforce benefits conservation, sustainability, and wildlife management. Therefore, balancing the workforce would help aid larger conservation efforts.

In Pakistan, female rangers are pushing past the gender gap by contributing their skillset to wildlife conservation efforts. Rizwana Aziz is the Assistant Director of the Punjab Wildlife Parks Department and is also the first woman officer in her department. Despite working with limited resources, Rizwana and her team have rescued dozens of Indian Pangolins from poachers and have released them back into their natural habitat. As one of the most trafficked species, pangolin population numbers are drastically decreasing. With the work from rangers, like Rizwana, pangolin population numbers can start to improve.

Rizwanna’s bravery and passion for wildlife conservation has inspired other women to join the male-dominated field. In Pakistan’s Margallah Hills National Park, Naghmana works as a female ranger patrolling the trails of the park. After being inspired by Rizwanna’s story, Naghmana decided to enter the ranger workforce. Part of her job includes making sure visitors do not trespass the Common leopard’s habitat or litter the grounds of the national park. Like many female rangers, Naghmana believes that she can connect better with women from local communities who play an important role in natural resource management.

From forests and savannas to wetlands and oceans, rangers work in a diverse array of ecosystems. Along the Mekong River, the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin depends on protection from river guards.

The River guards of the Cambodian Fisheries Administration’s Dolphin Conservation Division help track the dolphins, enforce sustainable fishing practices, and aid in the confiscation of illegal gillnets to keep the species from going extinct.

For the people of Cambodia, these dolphins are seen as a sacred part of the country’s natural heritage and are an important source of income for local communities who rely on dolphin-watching tourism. After years of hard work from river guards, Irrawaddy populations are making a comeback. In 2018, WWF and Government of Cambodia released a census showing that the population of critically endangered river dolphins in the Mekong rose from 80 to 92 in two years.

"The Mekong dolphin is considered our country's living national treasure and the results of this census reflect our many years of continuous efforts to protect this species," said His Excellency Eng Cheasan, Director General of Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

WWF has been supporting river guards and the diverse environments they work in, including through providing equipment and increased training, we are ensuring the survival of endangered species, like the Irrawaddy dolphin.

As one of the most biodiverse environments, the Amazon rainforest is home to 10% of the world’s known species, as well as 34 million people including three million Indigenous people. Despite its richness, the Amazon’s biodiversity and the communities that rely on its natural resources are at risk due to deforestation, over-exploitation, and climate change. Although they often go unrecognized, Indigenous Territories have aided in decreasing the advancement of deforestation.

Covering over 7,000 square miles, the Uru-eu-wau-wau land is considered to be one of the most important Indigenous Territories in the Rondônia region of Brazil largely due to its biodiversity and freshwater resources. However, the territory is often invaded by illegal loggers, hunters, and land grabbers.

Indigenous peoples play a key role in monitoring threats in order to defend the rainforest and their home. With support from WWF and the Kanindé Ethno-Environmental Defense Association, local communities have been equipped with conservation technologies such as drones, mobile phone applications, and remote sensing data to help them monitor the Amazon for illegal activity more effectively and safely. Communities were also taught how to fly the drones through a piloting course.

The project, which began in 2019, has helped trained Indigenous monitors to not only gather data safely, but also how to process and manage the data independently. Since the start of the project, data gathered by the Indigenous monitors has helped local organizations to make legal complaints to the relevant authorities.

“Some of the indigenous monitors who had already participated in the previous course are piloting the drones very well and are already multiplying this knowledge. With this, we are forming a network of indigenous people capable of monitoring the territories much more frequently and efficiently," said the president of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Indigenous People's Association, Bitaté Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau

When it comes to the public’s perception of what rangers do, many believe their only role involves monitoring wildlife and patrolling hot spots known for poaching. Although this may be one task, the role of a ranger is actually extremely extensive and requires a diverse set of skills.

For park ranger Marty Silver, resource-based interpretation and education are at the heart of his role at Warriors Path State Park in Tennessee. Marty is widely known for his environmental education and has introduced people to nature for several decades.

During the summer, Marty and the other rangers at the park focus on providing hands-on nature experiences for park visitors and community groups. Along with two interns, Marty provides approximately 9 programs per day, including guided hikes, evening campfire talks, stream ecology sessions, native wildlife demonstrations, and Junior Ranger conservation projects. Marty also works with local and regional schools throughout the year providing environmental education activities to classes nearly every school day.

“Most of our school can’t afford field trips, so the majority of these activities are held on the school site. This also gives me a chance to show the children that nature discovery and conservation is not just somewhere out in the park, but also in their own neighborhoods,” said Marty.

Between summer activities and school-site programs, Marty and the rangers at Warriors Path State Park serve approximately 20,000 to 30,000 people per year. Like Marty, rangers around the world play a major role in educating the public about the environment, wildlife, and conservation efforts.

WWF aims to strengthen the role of rangers in order to conserve not only the planet’s most threatened species and places but also the communities and people that share that space. With the help of partners, like URSA, WWF is focused on bringing equity and equality to the ranger workforce. We must understand just how diverse rangers and their work are in order to ensure effective policies. Highlighting ranger stories like these helps shine light on the diversity found in the ranger workforce.

-

Written by Madison Sloan for WWF