The World Ranger Congress gathered more than 450 rangers for its 10th edition in Hyères, France to discuss its contribution to the KMGBF
As the largest gathering of rangers in the world, the World Ranger Congress (WRC) is the main event organised by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) every 3 to 4 years. This year too, it brought together rangers who are involved in the protection of natural, cultural and historical sites and are coming from all continents.
Following on the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), this year’s Congress will focus on the contributions and developments of the rangers’ work to reach its Targets, in particular the Target 3. It was an occasion to recall that rangers are crucial for achieving the 30X30 target, which aims to protect 30% of the world’s lands and oceans by 2030. Rangers play a key role in managing and safeguarding these protected areas, ensuring compliance with conservation policies, and supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services, among many other actions. The WRC offered a genuine opportunity to highlight the challenges faced by rangers and to encourage international exchanges.
The ranger profession – a great potential of green jobs creation
The 30X30 target represents significant green job creation potential. Effective management of the expanded system of protected areas is projected to require over 1.5 million rangers or equivalents (one per 26 km²). This expansion can create more than 1.2 million green jobs by 2030, contributing to both conservation and economic development.
Carole d’Antuoni, President of Gardes Nature de France, an inter-professional association set up over 10 years ago on the initiative of the French National Parks and co-organiser of the 10th WRC with the IRF, emphasised the importance of this event in bringing the vital role played by rangers in the real protection of the environment and people back to the heart of political debates.
The Congress took place from 7 to 11 October 2024, ahead of the next UN Biodiversity COP 16 in Cali, Colombia in October, which will be a major momentum for the biodiversity community.
The program of the World Rangers Congress included six plenary sessions and 22 workshops covering key topics such as ‘The link between rangers and the fight against illegal wildlife trade in the context of the 30×30 target’ and ‘Developing a network of indigenous women rangers – Opportunities and challenges. In addition to the plenary and panel discussions, rangers from around the world have been able to discover the reality of French protected areas on the ground. Eight different venues have been selected for a one-day field trip to showcase conservation initiatives and the difficulties encountered in France.
The World Ranger Congress brought together more than 450 rangers from all over the world, including participants from indigenous communities. It it proved to be a crucial event for all those involved in nature conservation and protection, offering a platform for discussing, learning and collaborating on global issues linked to the preservation of our planet.
The Congress was also attended by a number of High-level speakers, among which Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chair of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Madhu Rao, Chair of the IUCN WCPA, Mike Appleton, Chair of the Universal Ranger Support Alliance, and John Scalon, Chair of the UK Government’s Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, Chair of the Global Initiative to Stop Wildlife Crime, and CEO of the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI).
Outputs of the Congress
During the Congress, rangers discussed and finalised the “Hyères Declaration” including a “Call to Cali” to strengthen the role and commitments of rangers in achieving the KMGBF and especially the “30X30 target”.
Addressed to stakeholders and decision makers at COP16, this declaration is aiming at reinforcing the community of protected area practitioners and “conservation workers” on the ground. It proposes cooperation pathways and capacity building to ensure that protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures are pragmatic, robust and resilient. Highlighting that rangers are a vital link between humans and nature, the ranger’s “Call to Cali” emphasises their crucial role in promoting natural and cultural heritage at the local and global level.
As a follow up of this major gathering, we are organising an event within COP16, to showcase the role of the ranger profession in the achievement of the GBF.
The session will bring together rangers, protected area managers, IPLCs representatives, NGOs and IGOs.
It will present the Hyères Declaration and will be key to ensuring that all stakeholders can support the profession and engage with rangers for inclusive, resilient and opportunity-creating protected areas, consistent with the Target 3 of the KMGBF.
Join us at the EU Pavilion – Blue Zone, on October 21. 2024 at 5:30pm (GMT-5)
