2024 World Ranger Day: Celebrating the guardians of nature

July 31 marks World Ranger Day, and its theme this year is "30 by 30," which is about ensuring that at least 30 percent of the planet is effectively conserved and managed by 2030, as outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework agreed upon by world leaders and decision-makers at the 2022 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15).

Without the unwavering commitment and passion of rangers, many species would likely be extinct, and the ecosystems would be in a more degraded and perilous state than they currently are. Rangers are, in many cases, putting their lives at risk, so that the people can enjoy fresh air, fresh water and a healthy planet.

Globally, there are about 286,000 rangers working in terrestrial sites, according to the International Ranger Federation. Since the last World Ranger Day, at least 140 rangers have lost their lives in the line of duty, with 53 percent of these fatalities occurring in Asia and 30 percent in Africa. While this figure is slightly lower than the 148 ranger deaths reported in 2023, it remains high, bringing the total to 1,319 ranger deaths over the past decade. A troubling trend is that homicides account for the majority of these deaths (27 percent), followed closely by animal encounters (26 percent), underscoring the severe and life-threatening risks rangers face.

However, these statistics reflect only recorded deaths, and many ranger fatalities go unreported. 

The federation highlights that the global number of rangers is significantly below what is needed. With the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aiming to ensure that 30 percent of the planet is effectively conserved by 2030, it points out that it is crucial to invest not only in our current rangers but also in the training and development of future rangers to achieve the goal.

Over the past year, CGTN has documented the stories of dedicated frontliners in ecological conservation in China. This includes the head of the Przewalski's gazelle protection station at Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve, who has dedicated over 20 years to conserving this species, as well as rangers working to protect wildlife at high altitudes in Menyuan County, northwest China's Qinghai Province.

On this day, let's take a moment to acknowledge the vital role rangers around the world play in preserving life on Earth.