Subject: WORLD RANGER DAY, 31ST OF JULY 2010: GRAA CALLS ON GREATER SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR AFRICA’

Media Release

In commemoration of World Ranger Day on the 31st of July 2010, the Game Rangers Association of Africa has called for greater support and acknowledgment of the valuable role of Rangers in the conservation of wildlife and protected areas on the African continent. “The general public feels very strongly about current conservation issues such as the rising tide of rhino poaching incidents in southern Africa, but seldom spare a thought for the brave men and women fighting at the forefront to try and curb this and other threats to our wildlife and protected areas across Africa” says GRAA Chairman, André Botha.

World Ranger Day was first observed in 2007, on the 15th anniversary of the founding of the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and is promoted by the 54 member associations of the IRF, the Thin Green Line Foundation and by individuals who support the ethos and work of rangers worldwide.

Although African governments often refer to the environment and tourism as a major new focal area on which to build their economies, very little resources are allocated to the proper management and care of these resources or the people who look after them. Conservationists and rangers across Africa often struggle with challenges such as poor or irregular remuneration, lack of appropriate training and suitable equipment and often lack sufficient support from senior management of conservation bodies and/or political leaders responsible for environmental affairs.

An example of this is the situation in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where more than 150 rangers have been killed by poachers and other militia over the last 5 years in trying to protect the Park’s endangered highland Gorilla, hippopotami and other wildlife from being eradicated, either for financial gain or to be used as food for warring faction troops. Many other rangers live and work under extremely difficult circumstances elsewhere on the continent, often for very little remuneration and compensation.

Further south, the very existence of certain protected areas, and by implication also the jobs and livelihoods of many rangers, guides and other staff working therein, seem to be under threat as activities such as mining, industrialization and the over-exploitation of natural resources in neighbouring areas seem to place growing on pressure on areas such as the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, Ndumo Game Reserve ad Songimvelo Nature Reserve in South Africa.

The Game Rangers Association of Africa would therefore like to urge conservation bodies and government to provide appropriate support, training and acknowledgement to rangers and other conservation staff throughout the continent as these men and women are the custodians of Africa’s biodiversity not just on behalf of single communities, countries or even the continent alone, but fullfil their calling on behalf of the global community.

Enquiries:

André Botha
Chairman
Game Rangers Association of Africa
Mobile +27(0) 82 962 5725
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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