European Ranger Federation

‘We need thousands of one-to-one conversations.’ This is how Christoph Promberger summarises the enormous challenge he and his wife Barbara are facing with their Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) – just as those around the world who want to implement the COP15 goal of protecting 30 percent of our planet by 2030. The Prombergers are the first private initiative to plan nothing less than the largest national park on our continent, covering 250,000 hectares in the Romanian Carpathians: a Yellowstone for Europe. 🦬⛰️ On the way to their goal, the couple and the FCC are confronted with manifold fears of the locals and prejudices, especially those spread by a forestry industry that has made a name in Romania time and again through illegal logging practices. How they are gradually resolving fears by taking into account the interests of the local communities, where they stand with their pioneering work and how important rangers are for the work of their foundation: The two tell us all this in our interview (link in comments 🔗👇). Here are a few impressions of their work, in which they have already placed 28,000 hectares of valuable forest area under full protection and given wild animals that once disappeared from the region a home again – right next to Brașov county, where we are planning the European Ranger Congress together with FCC and the Romanian Ranger Association in October 25! 🙌 . . . #conservation #30x30 #protectedareas #CommunityInvolvement #rangers #europeanrangers

Weeks after the devastating floods in the Valencia region, rangers from Madrid, Valencia and Navarre are still on the ground to help residents in need. 🤝 A ranger reports: ‘A bit of everything: searching the Albufera (a freshwater lagoon in the municipality of Valencia) with boats and now kayaks that have been lent to us, searching the beach on foot and with dogs, removing mud and belongings from a school, recovering cars from a garage, monitoring the rising river level as the electronic flow meters have been lost ... Clearing a pathway in a house by hand filling everything so the army dumper could drive in and transport everything to the lorry with an excavator, clearing out the flooded basement of a private house...’ 🙌 Bravo for so much dedication to the victims of this tragic flood of the century, which cost the lives of more than 220 people. Even though the emergency phase is probably over, specialised experts and heavy machinery are still needed. ⚙️ And rangers – in the long term and for all our natural treasures. Because their work to protect nature helps to prevent such disasters from happening in the first place. 🌱🫶 . . . #valencia #rangersmatter #standwithrangers #spanishrangers #europeanrangers

Join us at COP29’s Forest Pavilion for an impactful panel discussion: Guardians of the Forest: Women and Indigenous Peoples at the Forefront of Forest Conservation. 🌍 As the environmental challenges facing our world grow, this panel spotlights those on the frontlines of forest protection—Indigenous Peoples, women, and forest rangers. Together, we’ll explore the vital role of Indigenous knowledge, gender inclusivity, and community-driven stewardship in conserving our planet’s forests. 📅 Date: November 18, 2024 🕓 Time: 13:00 - 14:30 (CET) 📍 Live stream : https://lnkd.in/dHJ8m_Tz Tune into this essential conversation on forest conservation and the rights of those protecting these ecosystems. 🇫🇷 Rejoignez-nous au Pavillon Forêt à la COP29 pour une table ronde placée sous le thème : Guardians of the Forest: Women and Indigenous Peoples at the Forefront of Forest Conservation. 🌍 Alors que les défis environnementaux auxquels notre monde est confronté ne cessent de croître, cette table ronde met en lumière ceux qui sont en première ligne de la protection des forêts : les peuples autochtones, les femmes et les gardes forestiers. Ensemble, nous explorerons le rôle vital des savoirs autochtones, de la parité et de la gestion communautaire dans la conservation des forêts de notre planète. 📅 Date : 18 novembre 2024 🕓 Heure : 13:00 - 14:30 (CET) 📍 Live stream : https://lnkd.in/dHJ8m_Tz Participez à cette conversation essentielle sur la conservation des forêts et les droits de ceux qui protègent ces écosystèmes. #COP29 #ForestConservation #IndigenousPeoples #WomenInConservation #ClimateAction #FPA2 #Rangers Partners: Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, Global Forest Coalition, International Ranger Federation, @International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, Indigenous Leadership Initiative, @Indigenous Guardians, RECOFTC

There are no better ambassadors for nature than Junior Rangers coming home after a day out in the field with rangers! Whether they have built their own toad fence or watched their first crane through binoculars: the enthusiasm of these children and young people talking about ‘their’ ranger work to protect nature easily spreads to families and friends. 🐸🚧 Moritz Detel, himself a ranger for many years, is Head of Environmental Education for the Junior Ranger Programme of Naturwacht Brandenburg, which looks after 15 large protected areas in the German federal state. For him, 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, how the experience of self-efficacy strengthens Junior Rangers and what is needed in the protected areas for Junior Ranger programmes to be successful: Read this and more in our interview about one of the major Junior Ranger programmes in Europe! 🏕️ (On our website or click link to interview in comments) . . . #juniorranger #conservation #biodiversity #protectedareas #Brandenburg #rangers #europeanrangers

⏰ Don’t forget to submit your expression of interest if you would like to attend next year’s European Ranger Congress (ERC) in Romania: 🔗 click link in comments below! Our ERF Treasurer Michael Großmann, who has recently taken on the role of ERC Coordinator, and new ERF Secretary Maria Gurscaia have been on the ground in Moldova and Romania over the past few days. Their mission: to further promote the work of volunteer rangers and the development of the profession in Moldova, in which Maria, her fellow campaigners and conservation NGOs have invested all their energy to found a ranger organisation. With success: They recently became our newest member – and Maria and Michael were not only invited by the Moldovan radio station Eco FM, but even joined a press conference with high-class policy speakers to share the importance of ranger work and the European ranger network! 🙌 In Romania, during a visit to our cooperation partners Conservation Carpathia (FCC) and the Romanian Ranger Association Rangerii Din Romania Arr, the focus was on commonly discussing content and organisation of the ERC, which will take place in vicinity of the lighthouse project of the FCC and its founders, Barbara and Christoph Promberger: on around 250,000 hectares, a Yellowstone of Europe as largest national park of our continent is to be created! ⛰️🦬🐾 One thing is already certain: Rangers in Europe can look forward to a congress that will provide an inspiring forum for discussing the current challenges in ranger work between nature utilisation and conservation while integrating local communities and indigenous knowledge! 👉 So make sure to register your expression of interest for ERC now❗️ 📸 in order from left: radio interview at Eco FM station; press conference with representatives of Czech Republic, UNDP Moldova, ERF and the NGO Societatea Ecologică ”Biotica”; portrait with FCC’s founder Christoph Promberger and impressions from the FCC’ sites . . . #europeanrangercongress #conservation #indigenouspeoples #strongertogether #NaturesProtectors #rangers #europeanrangers

More than 150 scientists from 75 institutions have compiled one of the world’s first comprehensive inventories: the ‘Biodiversity Fact Check’, published by the German government’s Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity FEdA - BMBF-Forschungsinitiative zum Erhalt der Artenvielfalt. The facts are sobering, with a total of 60 per cent of the 93 habitat types examined in an inadequate or poor condition. However, the scientists also show how much action for more biodiversity pays off: 💰 7,000 hectares of floodplain waters have been renaturalised in recent years - not only positive for the populations of plants and animals in this habitat, but also invaluable for human residents by protecting them from flooding!🫸🌊 As co-chair of the Fact Check, Prof. Dr. Nina Farwig has conducted research primarily in the field of ‘measures to protect biodiversity’. We spoke to the university professor and conservation ecologist about what we can all do. Read why the scientist is convinced that rangers have a crucial role to raise public awareness of biodiversity’s importance in our interview (link in comments!) 💚 📸2: The populations of dragonflies (here: Keeled Skimmer), are currently developing positively ©Jörg Freyhof 📸3: The opposite applies to moths with predominantly negative developments – here their detection with light ©Dorte v. Stünzner-Karbe 📸4: This furrow bee pollinating a strawberry blossom is an example of the valuable ecosystem services that biodiversity provides ©Felix Fornoff . . . #biodiversity #protectionofspecies #conservation #factcheck #rangers #europeanrangers

#rangersdeservemore

October: Congress month for conservationists. ☑️🌿 To make sure you don’t get used to anything else, here is our Save the Date! 🗓️ 📌 6 to 10 October 2025: 📌 6th European Ranger Congress 🎉 📌 in Brașov County, Romania, right next to the breathtaking Piatra Craiului National Park (see photo)! Details on the theme and all other important information on this congress in cooperation with the Romanian Ranger Association and Foundation Conservation Carpathia will follow. Just this much in advance: the involvement of the local population in nature conservation will play an important role. Planning is already in full swing – and you can help us a lot: 🙏 To help us estimate the number of participants, please fill out this Expression of Interest form by 15 November 24 for all European Rangers and those who are interested in participating: Click link in comments 🔗 We can’t wait to meet you all! 🤗 . . . #europeanrangercongress #conservation #strongertogether #NaturesProtectors #rangers #europeanrangers

Some really nice footage to reflect on memories and review the key results of the #10thworldrangercongress!

⚠️ Extended deadline to apply as EUROPARC Youth Representative! Take your chance in contributing to current and future needs for #protectedareas and apply now ✍️ #youthfornature #youthmatters