Rangers in Europe and the World – hits and steps forward to new opportunities Frank Gruetz, President ERF + European Representative of the IRF CMA Conference 2017, 21st-23rd November, Conwy/NorthWales

INTERNATIONAL RANGER FEDERATION Founded in 1992 with 3 member associations (CMA, SCRA, ANPR) In 2017 nearly 80 member associations on 6 Continents

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 New IRF member associations in 2017 (17.11.2017) Albania National Parks Association -> Regular Asociacion Nacional da Guardabosques (ANGGA) Panama Ranger Association Association des Gares Nature de la Region Wallonne (AGNRW) – Belgium -> Associate Fiji Islands Ranger Association (FIRA) -> Regular Ranger Campus Foundation – Netherlands -> Associate Association for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of the Regional Conservation Area- Angostura Faical -> Regular Brasilia Ranger Association (AGP-DF) -> Regular The Israel Heritage Foundation (INHF) -> Regular

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 Currently voting for European Ranger Federation ERF -> Associate Keith Swenson (MD of Stone Horse Expeditions) - Mongolia -> Associate Application received – to vote shortly on Asociacion Nacional de Guardaparques Siglo XXI – Costa Rica -> Regular

3 meetings via skype with the IEC Since 15th March Louise Reynolds works as Executive Officer for IRF ¾ of the position is financed by funding of TGL (30.000 $), Parks Victoria (10.000 $) and US National Parks Service (10.000 $) IRF Executives and Regional Reps get financial support to carry out their duties, e.g. participation at regional congresses, actions to help establishing new ranger associations, … Internal investigation against South American Rep No actions as Rep for IRF Undermining IRF Setting the L.A. ranger associations against IRF

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 Using his position for non-ranger issues (religion and politics) >> Dismissal from Office as S.A. Rep (Aug./Sept.) >> New call for nominations for the position of the S.A. Rep (Nov.) BBC news in Febuary showed rangers killing local villagers in a National Park in India >> BBC showed NOT the real facts and backgrounds >> negative image for rangers in Southern and North East India, but also in Cameroon and Gabon Furthering the widows and orphans project in Asia, Africa, South America and Europe Lobbying for pardoning Mauricio Steller/ Costa Rica Several Twinning Agreements signed at ERC 2017

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 Update of Standing Rules and Statutes for legalizing IRF (at first in Australia, then USA) TGLF grants of 250.000$ in total were given to four IRF regions (South America, Africa, Asia, Latin America) Working on a Strategic Plan Supplying Member associations with info and material for WRD 2017 IRF/TGLF Awards Honour Roll and Fallen Ranger Fund – seeking for a new volunteer (Pete Beddows now active) Quarterly newsletters And much more…

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 Overwhelming response with actions worldwide, approx. 200% increase since WRD 2016 IRF HQ in Australia

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 - Democratic Republic of Congo

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 - Nepal

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 - Italy

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 – Colorado/ USA

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 Inauguration Ranger Memorial – Russia 57 Rangers died on duty since 1931

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 – Brazil „Health Care Run“

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 – Brazil, Planting a Ranger Tree to commemorate fallen Rangers

IRF Actions and Achievements in 2017 WRD 2017 - Switzerland

WRD 2017 – North York Moors/ UK

IRF In Memory of all fallen Rangers Wayne Lotter, past President PAMS Tanzania, former Vice President IRF – killed in the line of duty on 16th August 2017

IRF In Memory of all fallen Rangers Statistics: From 1st August 2016 to 31st July 2017 there were 105 Rangers killed in the line of duty 42% killed by poachers 47% in work related accidents 11% by the very animals Rangers protect 45% of this were within the IRF´s Africa region 44% were in the IRF´s Asia region 11% were in the IRF´s North America, South America and Europe regions 33 ranger deaths have been recorded by IRF since 1st August 2017

IRF In Memory of all fallen Rangers Conclusions of IRF President Sean Willmore TGLF Funding priorities: First Aid training Anti-Poaching training OH&S-training (including animal behaviour)

ERC 2017: 12th May - A new beginning …

ERF European Executive Committee Representative of the IEC in the EEC meetings Florin Halastauan, IRF Vice President

ERF European Executive Committee Training Officer Ranger training Environmental education (First) tasks: Personal exchange Exchange programs Cross-border programs Advanced training Field trips Train the Trainer Hrafnhildur "Habba" Ævarsdottir

ERF European Executive Committee Project Officer Ranger Project support congress organization (First) tasks Clustering International partnerships World Ranger Day Promoting ERF + IRF Twinning projects Support for maintaining and establishing national ranger associations Niklas “Niki” Göth

ERF European Executive Committee Secretary All types of communication Social media (First) tasks Image campaign Ranger-Video-Project Ranger & law Networking Update database Contact with all national ranger associations Emmanuel Icardo

ERF European Executive Committee Treasurer Finance Sponsorship (EU) Fund raising Cooperation (First) tasks ERF bank account ERF financial plan/ budget Clearing ERC 2017 finance Fund raising Establishing TGLF-arm in Europe Mirva Hyhkö

ERF European Executive Committee Cash auditors Auditing finances of the ERF Joao Manuel dos Santos Correia Ian Brooker

ERF European Executive Committee Vice President Substitute of President Advisor for President Support President in daily work Supervision of Officers Roger Cole

ERF European Executive Committee President Responsible for the general operations and business of the ERF Legal representative of the ERF General supervision over the affairs of the ERF Permanent contact to IRF Preside over the EEC and leader of the meetings Frank Grütz

ERF Actions and Achievements in 2017 4 meetings via skype with the EEC Finalizing minutes ot the 1st ECMM Amendments of the statutes were demanded by inspecting, legal and financial authorities because of legal reasons (According to Art. 9(3) carried out by the EEC) Translation of the needed documents into the German language by an authorized translation office Registration under the German Association´s Law on 12th October 2017 Approval for tax-privileged status in process Creation of a short report about the ERC 2017 for sponsors and IRF newsletter Creation and distribution of a delegate survey about the ERC 2017 and internal evaluation

ERF Actions and Achievements in 2017 Exchange with Spanish and Portuguese Rangers about their working conditions and status Establishing an ERF bank account in Germany and managing all needed paperwork to get Mirva Hyhkö in legal business as ERF treasurer Discussion about and defining the ERF logo Creating guidelines for the use of the ERF logo by member associations First drafts of ERF website and leaflet in cooperation with professional support Participation EUROPARC Federation Conference 2017 in Portugal and holding a Ranger workshop with Ruth Grant Creation of a document „How to start a ranger association“

ERF Actions and Achievements in 2017 Support for AIGAP (Italian Ranger Association) to re- activate ranger association Contacts to Georgia, Slovenia, Greece, Albania, Israel, Norway, Austria, Kosovo Efforts to clear the financial situation of the ERC 2017 together with CRA Composing workgroups to support each ERF Officer Preparing a questionnaire about the needs to be sent to every member association Request from ProParks for cooperation Preparations for a face-to-face-meeting 24th-26th November in Broxbourne (Lee Valley Park) Applying for Associate Membership in the IRF

ERF Actions and Achievements in 2017 Thank you ! Get involved! We need your support!