Assam: 1st Asian Ranger Forum kicks off in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: The first Asian Ranger Forum (ARF) kickstarted at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati, Assam on Wednesday.

The inaugural ceremony was held in the presence of Assam forest minister Chandra Mohan Patowary as the chief guest and Maharashtra forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar as the guest of honour.

As many as 146 participants including 35 women from 20 countries as well as representatives of local communities have converged to participate in the global event that will conclude on December 8. 89 of the participants are active rangers who are assigned to keep vigil over the planet’s various biodiversity-rich protected areas.

Addressing the inaugural session, Assam environment and forest minister Chandra Mohan Patowary expressed optimism that the 1st Asian Rangers Forum would provide a unique opportunity for rangers and organisations supporting rangers from all over Asia to gather together and collaborate on issues affecting rangers globally in their pursuit of protecting forests and wildlife.

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Elaborating on rich the biodiversity of Assam and its abundant flora and fauna, the minister said that dedicated forest officials with the support of local communities have scripted the rhino conservation success story in Assam as the State has achieved zero poaching in the last couple of years. 

“Our rangers, forest guards and officials have been toiling hard while overcoming various obstacles, even in the face of extreme danger to their lives, to safeguard our rhinos and other wildlife. They must be applauded for such exemplary service in trying conditions.” Patowary said.

Terming Assam as the gateway to South East Asia, the minister called for more such platforms like the Asian Ranger Forum to synergize the efforts in forest and wildlife protection in the entire ASEAN region and beyond.  

Maharashtra Minister of Forests Sudhir Mungantiwar, who also attended the programme as guest of honour, spoke about the various initiatives of the Maharastra government for forest protection during his speech. He also said that people from all walks of life must contribute to environmental protection measures while applauding the forest rangers for their dedicated services. 

The event is being organised by the Assam Forest Department, biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, the International Ranger Federation (IRF), the Ranger Federation of Asia (RFA), and the Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA) in collaboration with other NGO partners.

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“It is really exciting to be part of the first-ever Asian Ranger Forum and see the region rangers coming together to strengthen networks, to hear their challenges and also for rangers to share ranger-led solutions to the multitude of challenges that Asia's rangers face,” said Chris Galliers, president of the International Ranger Federation.

“We look forward to working with the regional body, the Ranger Federation of Asia, to build on the momentum that the ARF is creating so that we see greater recognition and investment into rangers to ensure a professional planetary healthcare workforce.”

The ARF offers a platform for rangers to share knowledge, create partnerships and build capacity through plenary sessions, workshops, training and other activities related to the theme of “Asia’s biodiversity guardians for 30x30.

Discussions are expected to focus on four areas: inclusive workforce, conditions, conduct, and capacity. Participants are expected to initiate discussions on existing challenges and opportunities, including how to address cross-cutting issues like climate risks, biodiversity loss and diseases.

During the event, the Asian awardees of the IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award, including ranger teams from Bhutan, Malaysia and the Philippines, will be

felicitated for their outstanding contributions and in celebration of their dedication and bravery in protecting and conserving natural heritage.

The Exploring Womanhood Foundation Van Durga Conservation Award 2023 are also being presented to women rangers from Gujarat, Meghalaya and Rajasthan, India.

One special award will be also presented to the spouse of a ranger from Maharashtra, for their extraordinary contributions towards the conservation of biodiversity.

The Guwahati Declaration, a declaration by rangers for rangers, will be announced during the Forum. The Declaration emphasises the crucial role of rangers in nature conservation, and the importance of promoting inclusivity and diversity in the ranger workforce, and outlines recommendations to support and empower Asian rangers in carrying out their duties effectively and responsibly.

The Guwahati Declaration will feed into the upcoming 10th IRF World Ranger Congress on October 2024 in France.

The International Ranger Federation (IRF) is a worldwide, non-profit membership-based organization, established to develop, advance, and promote the Ranger profession. The IRF is the standard bearer for the Ranger profession globally and the voice of Ranger Associations and Rangers everywhere. The IRF recognises Rangers, whether state, regional, communal, indigenous, or private, as essential on-the-ground planetary health professionals, who are responsible for safeguarding nature, and cultural and historical heritage, and protecting the rights and well-being of present and future generations.

The Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA) is a time-bound initiative that supports, promotes and advises the IRF to establish a pathway for the ranger occupation to be recognised as a skilled, trusted and respected profession that is at the forefront of protecting nature, people, and the planet. The URSA was formed through an alliance of eight global conservation organisations that support and invest in IRF to professionalise the ranger's workforce globally. Since its inception, URSA has garnered the support of fourteen additional partners that support its mission at the regional and national levels.

The Ranger Federation of Asia (RFA) works to address the key challenges faced by rangers during their duties throughout Asia. Formulated during the 7th World Ranger Congress, the RFA is an association of frontline field staff from all across Asia who are dedicated to protecting wildlife and their habitats. The RFA provides a platform for knowledge and experience exchange among rangers and is committed to advocating for the welfare and recognition of rangers in the region. The ARF serves as a significant platform to amplify the voices of rangers and address the challenges they face in protecting Asia’s exceptional biodiversity.

The IRF recognises Rangers, whether state, regional, communal, indigenous, or private, as essential on-the-ground planetary health professionals, who are responsible for safeguarding nature, and cultural and historical heritage, and protecting the rights and well-being of present and future generations.

One of the objectives of the ARF is to develop a declaration by rangers for rangers, emphasizing their crucial role in nature conservation, promoting inclusivity and diversity, and identifying strategies to support and empower Asian rangers in carrying out their duties effectively and responsibly. The Guwahati Declaration will outline key recommendations raised by rangers at the ARF and will feed into the upcoming World Ranger Congress in 2024.