Community rangers are key frontline conservation workers, playing a critical role in conserving our wildlife outside protected areas. Their work goes beyond deterrence — they educate the public, raise awareness, conduct research, and build strong relationships with communities. But they need our support.
Inspired by the 2019 Chitwan Declaration and guided by the principles of the Universal Ranger Support Alliance, stakeholders in Kenya are working together to improve ranger welfare.
Representatives from the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association, community wildlife and private conservancies, met in Maanzoni, Machakos County, to review the 2024 Kenya Community Ranger Perception Survey data.
Stakeholders concurred with the study findings that, if we are to have competent, motivated and effective community rangers, then there is an urgent need to scale up support to improve their working conditions, enhance rights-based approaches, and build their knowledge and skills.
More importantly, the survey findings reveal that the ranger workforce is overwhelmingly male and there is a need to bring more diversity in the teams to reflect the communities that they serve.
The 2024 community ranger perception survey conducted in Kenya and Tanzania was funded by the UK Government through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
