The Wildlife Ranger Challenge Continued

We recognise that the overall impact of the WRC is immeasurable and goes beyond just the financial support that has been made available to the participating ranger teams. In trying times, this initiative has helped to galvanise the ranger community. This is important as many rangers work in remote areas where isolation from each other is a reality. Having a common goal like competing in the challenge promotes camaraderie, builds community and increases collaboration between ranger groups.

Benson has seen first-hand how the WRC has helped keep his ranger team keep fit, boosted their morale and created a sense of “oneness” across the African ranger community. The esprit de corps of any team is usually directly linked to their success. A ranger team that loses morale, loses effectiveness. The WRC’s role in maintaining ranger morale needs to be appreciated and applauded by rangers and ranger supporters alike.

As the narrative around conservation changes it has become clearer that it is more about people than

Main Image Rangers collect information in a Maasai village in Makame Tanzania, regarding livestock predation

Credit: Monica Dalmasso

Right

The Oceans Without BordersMnemba team take part in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge run.

Credit: Oceans without Borders wildlife; and the most important people in conservation are the rangers. They perform diverse and critical roles; protecting our wild areas, monitoring wildlife, preventing poaching, engaging local communities, resolving humanwildlife conflicts and assisting with tourism. Rangers form important links between communities and conservation areas and help to ensure these areas deliver benefits for Africa’s people. They are ambassadors for all conservation efforts.

As a profession that supports the sustainability of our planet, rangers need more support. If global goals are met, rangers will be the custodians of over 30% of our planet by 2030. In Africa, we have approximately 58,000 rangers working across 8,788 protected areas. Rangers literally protect the heart and lungs of our planet’s ecosystem which we all rely on for life itself. We need to better protect and support the custodians of our earth.