The deaths of 71 rangers were recorded in Africa during the last year, 68 of whom were killed in the line of duty. (Lucas Ledwaba/Mukurukuru Media)
The deaths of 71 rangers were recorded in Africa during the last year, 68 of whom were killed in the line of duty.
These figures were released by the nonprofit Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) on World Ranger Day, 31 July. It is observed annually to commemorate rangers who have been killed or injured and to acknowledge their work in protecting the world’s natural treasures and cultural heritage.
“On World Ranger Day, we honour the memory of our fallen ranger colleagues around the
globe, acknowledging their unwavering dedication,” said Andrew Campbell, chief executive of the GRAA. “Our heartfelt tribute goes out to these brave rangers and their families, who have made immense sacrifices in safeguarding our natural world … On this special day, and every day, we stand firmly behind you.”
Since 2011, at least 633 African rangers have been killed in action. Of these, 326 were murdered by militia groups, terrorists and bandits in co-ordinated attacks or by poachers “while protecting our planet”, the GRAA said.
Rangers are custodians of the Earth and their work is crucial in ensuring progress towards achieving global biodiversity targets to ensure a more sustainable future for people and nature.
“They work in conservation areas, managing large tracts of the Earth’s land and water where their work contributes to many of the sustainable development goals,” it said, adding that rangers need to be recognised as “planetary health workers” who are essential to global conservation and sustainable development.”
The GRAA called on all who benefit from ecosystem services, including the regulation of air, water and climate, soil health, pollination and protection from natural hazards and disasters, to “come together to celebrate and support rangers and give recognition to the value that their work provides for the benefit of people and planet”.
Invest in the ranger workforce
At least 148 rangers died worldwide during the last year, according to the International Ranger Federation (IRF). Most of the deaths were in Asia, followed closely by Africa.
That 32% were attributed to ranger homicides is an “unacceptable amount”, said its president, Chris Galliers. “These ranger deaths, and particularly homicides, are critical to understand that we need government interventions to address a lot of the threats that are resulting in homicides of rangers.
“Interestingly and unfortunately, there was a total of 24% of range deaths attributed to vehicle accidents and that is something that we can surely address,” he said.
The theme for the 2023 World Ranger Day is “30 by 30”, which is based on target three of the Global Biodiversity Framework. It outlines a requirement that at least 30% of the planet is effectively conserved and managed by 2030. Effectively conserved areas can only happen with the support of rangers, said Galliers.
“If we want to achieve any of these targets and achieve for the first time biodiversity targets globally, we need to invest in the ranger workforce.”
There is a shortage of rangers, with only 286 000 working around the world. “If we are to get 30% effectively conserved by 2030, we are going to require at least one and a half million rangers around the world.”
Galliers said the IRF has been working on initiatives to invest in the ranger workforce.
Rangers’ work is not just for biodiversity and climate change reasons “but it’s very important for people for social security because of the ecological services that are provided, and it’s important for economies as well”.
Beacons of environmental stewardship
World Ranger Day is dedicated to “our men and women who daily devote their lives and time to protect the inheritance and heritage for present and future generations”, said Pam Yako, the chairperson of the SANParks board. “These are beacons of environmental stewardship, inspiring the world with innovative conservation practices and they should be celebrated.”
She was speaking at the anchor event for the World Ranger Day celebration at the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park in the Eastern Cape.
South Africa, she said, is battling the threat against its fauna and flora on many fronts from poaching, illegal harvesting of plants, fish and dumping of waste in the oceans. “As a result, much of the ranger corps duties are being focused on anti-poaching activities, leaving many other operational requirements such as area integrity management seldom attended,” she said.
Despite this, the opportunity to build a stronger ranger corp characterised by men and women with “high levels of integrity and commitment to the principles of safeguarding our natural heritage” is being created daily. While poaching of wildlife “continues unabated” in many parts of the country, concentrating on these alarming figures alone “would be very unfair to the men and women who risk their lives fighting poaching every day”, she said.
“If it were not for the efforts of these rangers, the picture we are currently seeing in the Kruger National Park, would be much more tragic and desperate than it currently is.”
Yako condemned the killing of rangers and paid special tribute to “our departed rangers for dedicating their lives while protecting our wildlife”. South Africa’s natural heritage is the foundation for its tourism economy and “without the contribution of these brave men and women, the conservation and tourism sectors would be poorer”.