Nwoya, Uganda – At dawn on the edge of Nyamukino Reserve in Nwoya District, ranger Ana moves silently through mist-laden savannah woodlands, boots damp with dew and ash from an overnight bushfire. She halts to consult a portable GPS device, noting recent African elephant tracks in the earth, then raises binoculars to survey the skyline for remote smoke emanating from illicit charcoal kilns. Ana and her fellow rangers – community members transformed into conservationists – diligently patrol these grasslands and woodlands daily, jeopardizing their lives to protect wildlife and habitat. In Nyamukino, that means safeguarding the shea and African mahogany trees that dot the savannah, as well as iconic wildlife like elephants, giraffes, oribi, and even elusive pangolins that call this reserve home. From the lush Albertine Rift in Uganda to the dense rainforests of the Congo Basin, such rangers are the unsung heroes in humanity’s battle against biodiversity loss and climate change. Today, on World Rangers Day, we salute their courage, recount their struggles, and call for greater support for these environmental defenders on the frontlines.
The Albertine Rift and Congo Basin regions are biodiversity treasure troves, home to mountain gorillas, forest elephants, okapis, and countless endemic species. Rangers here serve as guardians of planetary health, preserving ecosystems that sustain both nature and people. Their daily work doesn’t just safeguard wildlife; it underpins global environmental stability. The Congo Basin’s rainforests, for instance, form the world’s largest tropical carbon sink, absorbing more carbon dioxide than even the Amazon. Peatlands beneath these forests lock away some 30 billion tons of carbon, a natural bulwark against climate change that rangers defend at great personal risk. The stakes are immense: forest ecosystems in Central Africa absorb up to 1.5 billion tons of CO₂ annually, helping to stabilize our climate. In protecting these carbon-rich forests from illegal logging, land grabs, and wildfires, rangers are also protecting our planet’s climate.
But it’s not just the famous rainforests that matter. In Uganda’s Albertine Rift highlands, rangers shield watersheds and carbon-rich wetlands that millions rely on for water and agriculture. They plant trees on degraded hillsides and nurture seed banks of indigenous tree species to restore forest cover. Such place-based conservation efforts contribute directly to global targets like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – a new international pact to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030 (the “30×30” goal) while respecting human rights. Crucially, this framework explicitly calls for protecting environmental human rights defenders and ensuring Indigenous peoples and local communities are at the heart of conservation decisions. Rangers, especially those emerging from local communities, embody this principle by marrying conservation with community stewardship. Environmental defenders, notably Indigenous communities, play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity, managing one-third of the Earth’s protected lands and preserving an estimated 80% of remaining biodiversity. Studies confirm that forests managed by Indigenous and local people often have lower deforestation and better conservation outcomes than those enforced without community involvement. By supporting community-based rangers, we invest in a proven, culturally informed model of conservation that benefits nature and people alike.
When we picture a ranger, we might imagine armed guards chasing poachers. But today’s rangers ,especially community and private rangers recruited by groups like Environmental Defenders (ED) – do far more than patrol for poachers. “We wear many hats,” smiles Ana, one of six unarmed rangers hired from local Ugandan communities by ED. On any given day, Ana might be found planting native tree seedlings along riverbanks to curb erosion, tending a nursery of rare mahogany saplings, or cataloguing seeds in a community seed bank for reforestation projects. Rangers like her conduct wildlife censuses, monitor camera traps for elusive species, and record sightings of everything from chimpanzee nests to elephant dung – vital data for scientists and park authorities. They remove wire snares set by bushmeat hunters, dismantle illegal fishing camps, and report on the health of ecosystems. “Last week we rescued an injured pangolin caught in a snare,” she recounts, highlighting the rangers’ role as first responders for wildlife emergencies.
These rangers are also educators and community liaisons. They work closely with local villages to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts – advising herders on better corral practices to prevent lions from preying on livestock, or teaching farmers the importance of leaving buffer zones for crop-raiding elephants. They coordinate with Indigenous elders to integrate traditional knowledge (such as locating waterholes or medicinal plants) into conservation strategies. Rangers often lead environmental education in schools, inspiring the next generation with nature walks and tree-planting events. Their mission extends to restoring ecosystems – replanting deforested areas, fighting invasive species, and even performing controlled burns or firefighting to prevent devastating wildfires. The image of a lone ranger with a rifle is giving way to that of a multifaceted environmental steward: part ecologist, part forest ranger, part community outreach worker.
In Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ED’s community rangers focus on fighting illegal activities that ravage local ecosystems. They conduct covert patrols to document evidence of poaching, illegal logging, charcoal burning, unlicensed grazing, and land encroachment in protected areas. Armed with smartphones and GPS units rather than guns, they record geo-tagged photos of tree stumps or snares, which are then shared with authorities for enforcement action. “Our phones are our weapons,” says Ana. They also monitor for wildlife fires set by poachers or farmers, often acting as an early warning system to mobilize firefighting teams. In one instance earlier this year, ED rangers in Nwoya detected and helped extinguish a fast-moving bushfire that threatened a wildlife reserve and nearby community farms. Through such vigilance, these rangers are preventing small infractions from snowballing into large-scale destruction.
A breathtaking view from the hilltop, showcasing the vibrant expanse of our ED Reserve, where lush forests and vital ecosystems thrive under our dedicated protection
For all the good they do, rangers face extraordinary dangers. Conservation has become a deadly occupation in parts of Africa, and East and Central Africa are among the most perilous of all. Threats, violence, injury, disease, and death are not uncommon in this line of work. According to the International Ranger Federation’s records, no fewer than 1,535 rangers lost their lives worldwide in the line of duty between 2006 and 2021, roughly two rangers killed every week. Asia and Africa accounted for over 80% of those fatalities. Africa alone saw at least 591 ranger deaths in that period (2006–2021), and the toll has continued to rise. The Game Rangers Association of Africa reports that at least 565 African rangers have been killed in action since 2011, with more than half of them murdered by militias, armed rebel groups, or poachers. Each statistic represents a life cut short, a father, mother, son or daughter who died protecting our common heritage.
In East Africa, the sacrifices have been grievous. In the Democratic Republic of Congo’s embattled parks, rangers routinely come under attack from heavily armed insurgents and criminal gangs. Virunga National Park in eastern DRC ,famous for its mountain gorillas, has lost over 150 rangers since 2006, making it one of the most dangerous protected areas in the world for staff. (By some estimates, the number of Virunga rangers killed has exceeded 200 as of 2023.) These rangers are caught in the crossfire of DRC’s long-running conflicts: rebel militias involved in poaching, illegal mining and charcoal production regularly target park guards who stand in their way. Just three years ago, 12 Virunga rangers were massacred in an ambush by militiamen – a stark reminder of the battlefield-like conditions they face. Rangers in DRC not only face organized poachers but also confront warring rebel factions, some of whom view the parks and their staff as obstacles to lucrative illicit trades. As Andrew Campbell of GRAA noted, these rangers’ families often lose their sole breadwinners in regions where jobs are scarce, compounding the tragedy.
Even in Uganda and Kenya – generally more stable environments – rangers have lost their lives to gunfights with poachers and clashes with encroachers. In November 2024, a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger, Private Jonathan Olara, was fatally shot by armed poachers while patrolling a community wildlife area in Karamoja, northern Uganda. Earlier that year, another UWA ranger, Sgt. Charles Ngabirano, was killed in an encounter with suspected poachers in Lake Mburo National Park. Kenya too has seen ranger casualties, often in skirmishes with well-armed elephant poaching syndicates. On average, roughly 100 rangers worldwide die each year on duty, and 2021 marked a particularly deadly year with a record 92 rangers killed (46 by homicide). A recent survey found that 88.6% of rangers in Africa had faced life-threatening situations on the job, and fully 66% had been attacked by poachers at some point in their careers. These statistics highlight a sobering truth: serving as a ranger frequently puts one’s life in danger.
Rangers also contend with less visible threats. Many work in remote areas rife with diseases such as malaria – in fact, rangers in Africa have a significantly higher risk of malaria than the general population. They endure extreme weather, from torrential rains to searing heat, which takes a toll on their health. Low pay, inadequate equipment, and mental stress add further strain. A landmark global Ranger Perception Survey found widespread issues of insufficient training, poor salaries, and lack of insurance for rangers, especially in Africa and Asia. Tragically, some rangers’ families receive no compensation when the worst happens. “When a ranger falls in the line of duty, it’s often their family and community that bear the cost,” notes Chris Galliers, president of the International Ranger Federation. For the six community rangers employed by Environmental Defenders, ED has stepped in to provide health insurance and a welfare fund for their families – a safety net that many government rangers still lack.
A particularly acute challenge faces unarmed private and community rangers like those working with ED. Unlike their government counterparts (e.g. Kenya Wildlife Service rangers or Uganda Wildlife Authority wardens) who typically undergo paramilitary training and carry firearms, community rangers often patrol without weapons or arrest powers. They act as the “eyes and ears” of conservation, gathering intelligence and deterring illegal activities through presence—but if confronted by armed poachers or loggers, they must avoid direct engagement and call in state authorities. “We’re essentially civilian scouts,” explains ED ranger Edmond, who patrols Nyamukino reserve. “If we see armed poachers, we track from a safe distance and alert the Wildlife Authority. We can’t risk a firefight – we’d lose.” This necessary caution, however, leaves community rangers vulnerable. There have been instances of unarmed rangers being threatened, beaten, or even killed by criminals who retaliate when reported. Lacking formal law enforcement status, these rangers sometimes fall into a grey area of protection under the law – essentially defenders of the environment, but not always recognized as such by governments.
Moreover, community rangers often live in the very communities where illegal wildlife trade networks operate, which can expose them to reprisal attacks at home. A government ranger might be transferred to a new park every few years, but a community ranger is protecting her own ancestral forest – meaning her adversaries might be neighbors or even relatives. This social proximity can breed pressure and intimidation. ED’s rangers have reported receiving anonymous death threats via phone due to their work stopping timber theft and bushmeat hunting. In one case in DRC, a community informer assisting rangers was abducted by a militia group as a warning to others. These rangers are on the frontlines of conservation without the shield of arms or heavy backup, which is why organizations like ED prioritize equipping them with other tools: high-quality boots for long treks, two-way radios and mobile phones to call for help, and robust digital tools to document crimes covertly. Technology becomes their defense – hidden trail cameras, for example, can capture images of illegal loggers anonymously, reducing the need for risky face-to-face encounters. Still, there is no substitute for personal safety. “Every patrol we go on, our families pray for our safe return,” says Christine, the ED ranger. “We continue our work because we believe that if we do not, no one else will defend our home forests. But we know we are exposed.”
The vulnerabilities of community rangers highlight a wider truth: those who defend the environment often lack the protections afforded to other defenders or officials. Global Witness documented that between 2012 and 2023, at least 116 land and environmental defenders were murdered in Africa – most of them park rangers in the DRC. Many of these were not high-profile activists, but local people trying to guard their forests and wildlife. Unarmed community rangers share much in common with other grassroots Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) across Africa – they face powerful adversaries (from poaching kingpins to corrupt officials) while having only limited institutional support. Often, they also face systemic marginalization: coming from indigenous or rural communities, they may already be economically disadvantaged or politically voiceless. This makes them easier targets for persecution. Without strong legal protections or recognition, crimes against community rangers and environmental defenders frequently go unpunished, fostering a climate of impunity.
In addition to physical dangers on the ground, today’s rangers and environmental defenders confront high-tech threats. “Now we worry about drones and digital surveillance too,” notes Charles. In Uganda, for example, oil industry interests have reportedly funded special security units to spy on environmental activists’ communications. Surveillance malware and phone tapping – once tools aimed at political dissidents – are now being turned against conservationists and community advocates opposing destructive projects. Rangers and local activists campaigning against, say, an illegal mining operation or an oil pipeline project may have their emails monitored or their movements tracked via hidden GPS devices. In Uganda’s Albertine region, a 2022 investigation revealed that the Oil & Gas Surveillance Unit (with financing from a major oil company) was conducting real-time monitoring of phones and computers of environmental NGOs and defenders, in an effort to discredit or incriminate them. Such digital surveillance tactics aim to intimidate defenders into silence and have a chilling effect on civil society. For rangers, whose work often involves reporting illegal activities implicating powerful interests, the possibility of being watched or hacked is a new worry. ED has responded by training its rangers in basic digital security – using encrypted messaging, secure data backups, and caution in communications – an unfortunate necessity in the modern era of conservation.
The challenges rangers face are compounded by a shrinking civic space in several African countries. Both Uganda and DRC have seen crackdowns on civil society freedoms in recent years. In DRC, laws restricting public assembly and NGO activities, along with heavy-handed security tactics, have hindered activists’ ability to operate safely. Environmental defenders who speak out against land grabbing or polluting projects have been arrested or labelled as troublemakers. In Uganda, new regulations on NGOs and protests have similarly curbed activism, while authorities have occasionally used anti-terrorism laws to detain or surveil environmental campaigners. This criminalization of activism makes the work of rangers and defenders even harder. Instead of being celebrated as heroes, some find themselves harassed by the very systems that should protect them. Notably, women environmental human rights defenders (WEHRDs) face unique challenges – from gender-based violence and online harassment to cultural bias that may dismiss or stigmatize outspoken women. ED actively supports local women’s groups and has gender-sensitive protocols such as providing family-friendly housing for women rangers. Still, women remain grossly underrepresented in the ranger workforce – only about 3% to 11% of rangers globally are female according to recent surveys. Ensuring that female rangers and activists are empowered and protected is essential for truly inclusive conservation. They bring different strengths to community outreach and can be powerful role models, yet they often have to overcome prejudice in a male-dominated field.
Ultimately, whether male or female, armed or unarmed, government or community-based – all rangers share a commitment to defending something larger than themselves. They are, in effect, human rights defenders: they defend the rights of communities to a healthy environment and the rights of nature to exist. As such, their protection needs to be recognized as a human rights imperative. The new global biodiversity framework’s Target 22 acknowledges this by calling for the “full, equitable, inclusive” participation and protection of environmental defenders in conservation governance. This is a welcome policy shift, but words must translate into action on the ground in places like Uganda and DRC.
Two of our dedicated rangers stand proudly near ancient trees, overlooking the vital water sources we protect in the ED Reserve, safeguarding nature for future generations
Rangers are often called the backbone of conservation, and for good reason. Without them, even the best-laid conservation policies and international agreements would falter. A protected area is only as effective as its day-to-day management – and that boils down to boots on the ground. The world has set ambitious goals under the Kunming-Montreal framework: halting species extinctions, protecting 30% of lands and oceans, restoring ecosystems, and respecting Indigenous rights. None of these goals can be achieved without investing in rangers and the communities they serve. As Dr. Rohit Singh of WWF succinctly put it, “Rangers are the backbone of conservation efforts in these critical landscapes, yet they often work under challenging conditions with insufficient resources.”
Encouragingly, there is growing global recognition of ranger welfare. The Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA) – a coalition of conservation organizations including IUCN, WWF, and others – was launched in 2020 to professionalize and support rangers worldwide. URSA has helped develop a comprehensive Action Plan to improve rangers’ Capacity, Conditions, Conduct, and Inclusivity. This includes establishing global standards for fair pay, adequate insurance, proper training, and accountability. For example, a first-ever Code of Conduct for rangers was developed in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, providing guidelines to ensure rangers uphold human rights and community-friendly practices. Such initiatives aim to transform ranger work into a true profession – one that is respected, well-supported, and accountable. In the wake of the 2019 World Ranger Congress in Nepal, where rangers from 70 countries issued the Chitwan Declaration outlining their needs, there is new momentum to address issues like low wages and lack of equipment. Many rangers still operate without proper pay, contracts, or even basic gear. Changing this is critical not only for rangers’ dignity but also for conservation effectiveness. A ranger who is well-trained, well-equipped, and motivated is far more capable of securing a protected area than one who is poorly paid, overworked, and stressed.
Financial investment is a big part of the solution. Experts estimate that protected areas globally face a multi-billion dollar annual funding shortfall. Bridging that gap would yield huge returns – one study suggests a 5:1 return on investment for funding protected areas, in terms of ecosystem services and avoided costs from environmental damage. Within that, investing in rangers has an outsized impact: they not only enforce the law but also engage communities and ensure that conservation goals are met on the ground. At least 12,500 additional rangers are needed across critical regions in Asia and Africa just to adequately cover existing parks, according to a 2024 analysis. It’s a reminder that while we praise the rangers we have, we also need more personnel and funding. Environmental Defenders’ program in Uganda and DRC, funded in part by international donors, shows what a difference even modest funding can make – the six community rangers now have field gear, a small ranger post for shelter, and a stipend to support their families, none of which they had before.
Crucially, supporting rangers should go hand-in-hand with supporting the broader struggles of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and other defenders. In Africa, many conservation areas overlap with Indigenous territories and community lands. Historically, some conservation approaches excluded or even evicted local people – a model often called “fortress conservation” that led to human rights injustices such as the displacement of Batwa (pygmy) communities from parks in DRC and Uganda. Those old models are neither ethical nor effective. We now know that empowering communities yields better outcomes. The Global Environment Facility’s new Inclusive Conservation Initiative (part of GEF-8 funding) explicitly channels funds to Indigenous and community-led conservation projects, recognizing that a rights-based approach is integral to meeting global biodiversity targets. This means supporting community rangers, land defenders, and women’s groups as key players in conservation. It also means reforming laws and policies to formalize community land rights and give local people a real seat at the table in managing natural resources.
Environmental Defenders (the NGO behind these community rangers) operates on the principle that conservation must align with human rights and be community-driven. They support Indigenous forest guardians in DRC’s Ituri region, help women in Uganda’s oil-affected regions to advocate for their environmental rights, and provide legal aid to villagers fighting illegal land grabs. By framing rangers as Environmental Human Rights Defenders, ED is advocating for their protection under international human rights norms – a strategy increasingly echoed by groups like Global Witness and the UN Environment Programme. When rangers in DRC or Uganda face threats, ED works with networks like DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) to mobilize protection measures, whether it’s emergency relocation or security training. The lines between a “park ranger” and a “human rights defender” are blurring, and rightly so: defending ecosystems is defending the rights of communities to life, health, culture, and future development.
As the world marks World Rangers Day, our celebrations must be matched with commitments to action. We need to champion a new paradigm in which rangers are not viewed as low-paid foot soldiers, nor as antagonists to local people, but as partners and champions of a shared cause. This paradigm treats community members not as passive beneficiaries of conservation, but as co-creators and leaders – with community rangers acting as the vital bridge between traditional knowledge and modern conservation science. It insists that no conservation goal justifies violating human rights: when conflicts arise between wildlife protection and community needs, solutions must be sought that honor the dignity and livelihood of local people. The dark chapters of militarized conservation – including allegations in DRC that park guards were involved in abuses against indigenous Batwa in Kahuzi-Biega– stand as cautions. They show that excluding communities can breed resentment and violence, undermining the very goals of conservation. The future of conservation in Uganda, DRC, and across Africa lies in community-based approaches that integrate human well-being with ecological integrity.
Rangers like Ana, Blam, and Jerry exemplify this future. They are protectors of both nature and human rights in their homelands. Equipped with knowledge of their land, compassion for their people, and the support of organizations like ED, they are proving that one can plant trees, save wildlife, and defend community rights all at once. Their success stories – a forest regenerating here, a poaching ring dismantled there, a community gaining secure rights to its traditional forest – offer hope. They show that the seemingly local work of rangers links to grand global challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, indigenous rights, and sustainable development. When a ranger prevents an old-growth tree from being illegally cut, that tree continues to absorb carbon and release oxygen for decades. When a ranger apprehends a bushmeat poacher, a population of endangered monkeys gets a reprieve to recover. When rangers help communities negotiate grazing zones, both livestock and wildlife are healthier and conflicts subside. Each small victory on the ground contributes to the global fight for a livable planet.
Eco-guards patrolling the ED Reserve pause for a photo with a majestic, ancient tree, standing tall as a symbol of nature’s resilience and their commitment to its protection.In the early morning light, as ranger Edmond crosses a clearing, he spots something that brings a smile to his face – a cluster of young trees he planted two rainy seasons ago, now waist-high and verdant, guarded by the very elephants that once trampled seedlings. It’s a small sign of renewal. “This is why I do this,” he whispers, gesturing to the growing forest. On this World Rangers Day, let us honor that spirit of renewal and resolve. Let us stand with the guardians of the wild who stand for all of us, and ensure they have the recognition, protection, and resources they need. The future of conservation – and indeed, our shared environment – depends on it.
Some of the names have been changed for security reasons.
Ranger Christine takes a well-earned break, posing confidently after a field patrol in the heart of our ED Reserve forest, embodying strength and dedication to conservation.