ERF Newsletter November 24
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Dear European rangers,
Thousands of one-to-one conversations: That's what will be needed around the world if we take 30x30 seriously and proclaim new protected areas not just on paper, but gather local people behind their creation. Thousands of one-on-one talks: This is also just what Barbara and Christoph Promberger have on their list to establish the largest national park on our continent: a Yellowstone for Europe. The two are convinced in our interview that this will never work against the local population.
This pioneering work by the couple as first private European national park initiators with their foundation Conservation Carpathia is a truly inspiring example for our European Ranger Congress theme ‘Rangers – the voice of nature: Building a bridge between local communities and nature conservation’. No one better to do this than rangers: They are the first contact on the ground, experience people's concerns first-hand, work with junior rangers and volunteers from local communities and usually come from these themselves.
The rangers of German Naturwacht Brandenburg know all too well what good ambassadors Junior Rangers are for conservation. The knowledge and enthusiasm for nature they pass on is in turn spread all the more enthusiastically among families and friends of the children. How this Junior Ranger programme works and what all who do not yet have Junior Rangers can learn from it. One thing all rangers surely do have is the passion to not only pass on information, but also help visitors make own observations of animals and plants. For biodiversity researcher Prof Dr Nina Farwig, this significantly contributes to understanding the importance of biodiversity and fosters sympathy for it.
'Biodiversity without borders’ is the theme of the XXIV Portuguese Ranger Meeting. Make sure you submit your expression of interest on this last day to do so if you would like to join! And for all those who would like to know what news of the international ranger community, above all the International Ranger Federation, is out there, we have set up a small window here, for which our newly elected ‘Europe Regional Representative’ and ERF board member Lars Scharfe reports – without claiming completeness!
And yet another time, bitterly, I finish without news of ERF Ranger Ohad Yahalomi, held captive for 14 terrible months now. Wishing all his loved ones every strength and all of us as peaceful an end to the year as possible
Urs Reif, President of the ERF
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When wildlife biologists Barbara and Christoph Promberger observed the massive deforestation in Romania in the 2000s, they realised that simply watching was not an option. The couple began mobilising donations worldwide. Since then, their aim has been to buy up the forest areas to put them under full protection – until the largest national park in Europe is created on around 250,000 hectares around the Făgăraș Mountains: a Yellowstone for Europe. On the way to their goal, the couple are confronted with manifold fears of the locals and prejudices. How they are gradually resolving them by taking into account the interests of the local communities, where they stand and how important rangers are for the work of their foundation.
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Whether they have built their own toad fence or watched their first crane: the enthusiasm of Junior Rangers talking about ‘their’ ranger work to protect nature easily spreads to families and friends. For Moritz Detel, Head of Environmental Education for the Junior Ranger Programme of Naturwacht Brandenburg, Germany, the programme has another important meaning: as Junior Rangers, young people not only learn about the diversity of species, but also about diversity among each other. How they learn that it’s worth finding solutions together and thus become a source of hope against the current social divide and what is needed in the protected areas for those programmes to be successful.
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More than 150 scientists from 75 institutions have compiled one of the world’s first comprehensive inventories of biodiversity on a national level, published by the German government’s Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity FEdA. While the facts are sobering, with a total of 60 per cent of the 93 habitat types examined in an inadequate or poor condition, the scientists also show how much action for more biodiversity pays off. As co-chair of the Fact Check, Prof Dr Nina Farwig has conducted research primarily in the field of ‘measures to protect biodiversity’. Read why the scientist is convinced that rangers have a crucial role to raise public awareness of biodiversity’s importance.
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Our Europe Regional Representative reports
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Following the elections at the 10th World Ranger Congress, the first IRF Board meeting with the new representatives took place on the 12th of November, covering the following topics, among others:
- The election results and a detailed report are published here.
- The next Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the IRF is planned for 17 September 2025 for all full members, who are invited to bring in topics.
- The official membership certificate for Moldova's voluntary ranger organisation A.O. Inspectorii Voluntari de Mediu Rangerii was approved.
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The Portuguese Rangers are inviting all interested fellow rangers to their XXIV National Meeting of Portuguese Park Rangers and XVIII Technical Conference.
- 29 January to 2 February 2025
- in the Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António Marshland Nature Reserve
- Theme: Biodiversity without Borders
Expressions of Interest: Deadline for all EOIs is today, 29 November 24 – official registration will follow!
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The 2025 International Ranger Awards are open for nominations until 31st January 2025.
- Awardees will be announced during 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (October 9 – 15, 2025)
- Winners will receive awards ranging from $25,000 to $10,000 to support the protected and conserved areas where they work
To nominate a ranger or a ranger team:
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We are excited to share our preliminary date and venue for the next European Ranger Congress in cooperation with the Romanian Ranger Association and Foundation Conservation Carpathia with you!
- from 6 to 10 October 2025
- in Brașov County, Romania, in immediate vicinity of Piatra Craiului National Park
Detailed information on programme and registration will follow soon. Please note that there may be slight shifts in the date in the course of further planning!
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This newsletter didn't reach you directly by mail? Register now to be informed conveniently in time about news, trainings, interviews and reports for and about Europe's rangers – and share the registration link with your fellow rangers.
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