The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) is calling for the urgent prioritisation of ranger safety and welfare, in conflicted zones.
This, as tensions mount in areas where rangers work, such as northern Mozambique, South Sudan, northern Nigeria, Eastern DRC, and the high-risk W–Arly–Pendjari (WAP) Complex in Benin.
The International Ranger Federation (IRF), reports these regions have the second highest number of on-duty ranger fatalities in the world.
About 1,000 rangers have died in Africa, in the line of duty in just ten years. Between 50 and 70% of these, died in the hands of poachers and the military.
Louise de Bruin, CEO of the GRAA, said in a statement on Friday, the safety and welfare of rangers, must be recognised as essential to effective conservation, and not perceived as optional.
“Without secure, well-supported rangers, biodiversity protection in conflict zones becomes impossible. We call for stronger legal protection recognising rangers as essential frontline services; sustained investment in training, equipment, mental health support, and operational systems and long-term funding commitments that do not disappear when volatility increases.”
She also said rangers are not soldiers, but guardians of peace, protectors of ecosystems, and vital partners to communities living alongside wildlife.
While some rangers may carry firearms and at times appear militarised, rangers are there to protect wildlife, ecosystems and communities, rather than engage in conflict.
Moreover, the GRAA wants rangers protected under international law, and their operations to be grounded in national legislation and fully aligned with international human rights standards and humanitarian law.
“Ethical practice, guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Ranger Federation Code of Conduct, and safeguarding principles, must underpin all ranger activities—especially where force, authority, and community interaction intersect” said de Bruin.
This could come in the form of contextualised Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) and formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with state, military, and community actors who are active in conflicted areas.
Picture of rangers in the Virunga National Park, by Congo Safaris Tours.