Women Conservation Rangers
Protecting our resources and species is a job for all mankind. But a special shout out to all women rangers for standing strong in a work environment that is tough, grueling and full of difficulties. Below are a few of the many stories of women rangers protecting our environment and demonstrating that the profession, discipline and success for women rangers are no way limited by one’s gender.
“If women come together, they can have more impact than any agreement, than any negotiations, because we know that the future — it’s coming from us.”
Virunga National Park Rangers
Being a ranger, or “gardien du parc” in Virunga National Park is one of the most prestigious jobs in Eastern Congo. It is also considered one of the most dangerous jobs with 150 Virunga rangers having been killed in the line of duty since 1996. Several women have applied before, but none had passed the six-month boot camp until January 2014 where four women officially began their duties as Virunga rangers. Today there are now 14 women rangers who undergo the same exercises as their male counterparts in learning battle-zone tactics, survival techniques and wildlife tracking.
Band-e-Amir National Park Rangers
Band-e-Amir is Afghanistan’s only national park, established in 2009. In 2012, the parks Protected Area Committee hired four women rangers – the first female park rangers employed in the nation. The hiring of Sediqa, Nikbakht, Fatima and Kubra represent a significant milestone for the employment of women in Afghanistan and their involvement in the nation’s enforcement field.
Yugal Mangi Rangers
Australia has a program called Caring for Country, which delivers environmental outcomes across remote and regional Australia. Within the program are ranger groups that operate across 200,000 square kilometers of land owned by Aboriginal people in the Land Council’s area. Aboriginal rangers play an important role in traditional knowledge structure and managing their natural resources. Specifically, the women in the Yugal Mangi Rangers program is inspiring as they work to make their communities more sustainable.
