TO raise the profile of Africa’s rangers, the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa (GRAA) has launched the Ranger Legacy Project ‘Soul of the Ranger’ campaign.
This initiative will reveal the critical and diverse roles that rangers play in conservation. By using iconic images taken by internationally acclaimed conservation photographer and ranger, Peter Chadwick, the challenges rangers face is documented, and their stories shared.
The GRAA has developed a comprehensive African Ranger Imagery Library that has over 1000 images, showcasing rangers the diversity of their work, from wildlife monitoring to visitor safety, community relations, fire management, erosion control, alien plant control and counter poaching. It highlights diversity of the people involved and the beautiful landscapes and wildlife that rangers work to protect.
Rangers are the guardians of wild Africa, working for nature and protecting what we love. Their conservation efforts benefit species, habitats, ecosystems, and communities. Rangers are often undervalued and underappreciated and many people do not understand the crucial role they play in all conservation efforts.
“We hope through this initiative to give the public a better understanding of the incredibly broad and important role that rangers play at the coalface of conservation rangers,” says Andrew Campbell, GRAA Chief Executive Officer.
“Rangers do so much more than most people think. They are educators, researchers, first responders, fire fighters, ecologists, wildlife monitors, law enforcers and more! If people better understand this, we as the ranger community can increase ranger support by influencing policy and raising the much-needed funds to benefit Africa’s rangers.”
Campbell said they encourage all potential donors and supporters to help them change the narrative and image of the ranger for their benefit.
“They are such deserving men and women working against all odds in beautiful and remote wild places and they need our support.”
Follow and support the #RangerLegacy ‘Soul of the Ranger’ campaign or visit www.gameranger.org for more information on how to support these rangers.
