In order to protect and preserve the living environment of our planet, not only are more nature reserves needed - they also need employees to look after and protect them. But that's exactly where the problem has been, as a study now shows: So far, only 550,000 rangers are deployed worldwide and are responsible for 17 percent of the global land area. If the protected areas are to be expanded, the human component must also be upgraded considerably.
From December 7th to 15th, 2022, government officials from all over the world will gather for the conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity. At this meeting, it should be decided to designate 30 percent of the earth's surface as nature reserves by 2030 and to protect them from further destruction and ecological degradation. This goal is also referred to as “30 by 30” for short. "Our protected area system is the livelihood of our planet because it provides people with water and clean air, stores carbon and prevents biodiversity loss," says Mike Appleton of the Protected Areas Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
550,000 for 20 million square kilometers of area
The problem, however, is that in order to effectively look after and protect the nature reserves, you need the right staff, such as game wardens. "The world needs rangers - to protect biodiversity, maintain important ecosystem services and ensure that wilderness areas remain wild," explains co-author Andrew Tilker from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) in Berlin. In a study, the researchers have now determined how many game wardens and other employees in nature reserves there are worldwide. To do this, they evaluated data from 176 countries for national parks, nature reserves, conservation reserves, landscape protection areas, nature reserves, natural monuments, state parks and certain areas that are under sustainable indigenous and traditional management.
The evaluation showed that only 555,000 protected area employees worldwide are responsible for 17 percent of the world's land area - they have to look after and protect an area of over 20 million square kilometers. Also, just 286,000 of them are game wardens, directly monitoring protected areas, ensuring law enforcement, working with visitors and local communities, and tracking wildlife. Many other rangers also serve as tour guides, firefighters, environmentalists, and in many other capacities. This is the first estimate of the number of protected area personnel worldwide since 1999 and is the first ever to specifically include rangers.
Five times more staff needed
According to the scientists, these results show that there are far too few rangers and other personnel to effectively protect and care for nature reserves worldwide. “The goal of '30 by 30' is an important goal. However, it becomes meaningless unless we are also willing to invest in people to minister effectively and equitably to those places,” Appleton said. “There are more people working on golf courses and country clubs in the United States than there are rangers anywhere in the world.” Tilker adds, “Our results should be a wake-up call to the world. It is important that we increase the number of rangers to ensure the well-being of protected areas around the world.”
The research team estimates that at least 2.9 million workers, including 1.53 million other rangers, would be needed to effectively protect and manage 30 percent of the world's land area by 2030. It is also important not only to increase staff, but also to recognize protected area management as a vital professional service, similar to medical staff and first responders. Studies have already shown that protected area personnel in many countries have been underpaid, underfunded and inadequately trained and often suffer from inappropriate working conditions.
"The effectiveness of our planet's life support system depends not only on the number of acres protected, but also on investing in good and skilled workers," said Chris Galliers, President of the International Ranger Federation. "While we are working hard to make our rangers more representative, professional and accountable around the world, they need far more capacity and support than respected caretakers of our wildlife and wilderness areas." protecting wildlife, natural ecosystems, natural resources, and communities and cultures.
Source: Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW); Specialist article: Nature Sustainability, doi: 10.1038/s41893-022-00970-0