New Delhi: On July 31 every year, the world honours the often-overlooked heroes of our wilderness: park rangers. These dedicated individuals, also known as forest rangers, work tirelessly to protect and preserve America’s dwindling natural resources. Also, on this day, the world pays tribute to the brave rangers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. While many people envision park rangers collecting entrance fees or leading wildlife tours, few realise the significant and often life-threatening dangers they face. They are the unsung heroes who confront these challenges as they safeguard our national parks and forests.
World Ranger Day is an initiative led by the International Ranger Federation in collaboration with The Thin Green Line, which supports park rangers and their families. Together, they work to raise awareness about the challenges rangers face and the importance of their work.
Every year, a theme is set for World Rangers Day, and this year’s theme is ‘30 by 30’.
What is the importance of a ranger?
Despite their different titles, rangers, forest guards, and wildlife officers are all united in their mission to protect the natural world. Their collective efforts make conservation possible. But what does a ranger’s role entail?
‘Ranger’ encompasses professionals safeguarding and managing national parks, natural areas, wildlife, and cultural sites. These individuals, often called forest guards or wildlife officers, undertake tasks such as patrolling protected areas, monitoring wildlife, preventing poaching, and engaging local communities in conservation efforts. This diversity of roles underscores the breadth of their responsibilities and the importance of their work in protecting our natural world.
Rangers’ work is demanding and gruelling, yet their dedication is unwavering. They endure prolonged stays in remote field locations, sometimes separated from their homes and families for weeks or months. Rangers may serve officially or as dedicated community members and could be paid or volunteers.
Furthermore, ranger work is fraught with danger. As they guard some of the world’s most endangered and heavily trafficked animals, such as elephants, tigers, and rhinos, rangers face significant risks from armed and violent poachers.
World Rangers Day 2024: What is the theme for this year?
The 2024 World Ranger Day theme is “30 by 30,” derived from the 2022 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). World leaders and decision-makers agreed upon a Global Biodiversity Framework during this convention. Target 3 stipulates that a minimum of 30 per cent of the planet should be effectively conserved and managed by 2030 (“30 by 30”).
Achieving this ambitious target necessitates a well-equipped and well-trained area-based workforce. Rangers and protected area workers are at the forefront of this workforce and shoulder many responsibilities.
Their roles are as diverse as the ecosystems they protect, from protection and conservation to monitoring, visitor services, fire management, law enforcement, education, community support, and regulation of sustainable use.
World Ranger Day, observed globally on July 31, serves as a solemn occasion to honour the brave men and women who have lost their lives or been injured while serving as Rangers. It is also a day to celebrate the dedicated efforts of Rangers in safeguarding the world’s natural wonders and cultural legacies. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
