The world family of rangers in protected areas
Home Page
How to Join
IRF News
Training
Congress
Forums
Karimoor
Gallerry
Welcome International Ranger Federation

HISTORY AND AIMS

The International Ranger Federation(IRF)was founded in 1992 with a signed agreement between the Countryside Management Association (CMA), representing rangers in England and Wales; the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA); and the U.S.Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR).

The goals of this agreement are to provide a forum for rangers from around the world to share their successes and failures in protecting the world's heritage and to promote information and technology transfer from countries in which protected area management enjoys broad public and government support to countries in which protected area management is less well supported.

Rangers from any country can join the IRF. The only requirements are that they have an association of protected area professionals and that they petition the IRF for affiliation. In other words, the IRF is a federation of associations, not an association of individual members.

Over 50 associations from national, state and territorial entities have affiliated with the IRF. Additionally, rangers from other countries have applied for provisional membership in IRF while they attempt to establish ranger associations in their countries.

To achieve our goal of providing a forum for communications among protected area professionals, the IRF has sponsored five international congresses. The first was held in Zakopane, Poland in 1995 and was followed by further congresses in San Jose, Costa Rica in 1997, Kruger National Park, South Africa in 2000, Victoria, Australia in March, 2003 and in Stirling, Scotland in June 2006. The 6th World Ranger Congress will be held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 2 - 7 November 2009. Details of the Bolivia Congress will be made available as they come to hand.  Previous Congress proceedings are available by going to the CONGRESS section of this site.

AIMS OF THE IRF

To further the professional standards of rangers throughout the world
To advance the aims of the I.U.C.N1s World Conservation Strategy
To share knowledge and resources
To establish global communications with ranger organizations
To foster professional exchanges between rangers
To arrange regular international meetings, including a World Congress every 3 years
To undertake joint activities to directly support each other1s operations where necessary and feasible
To represent rangers interests through close co-operation with other international organizations

 

IRF FOUNDATION DOCUMENTS

Zakopane Declaration accepted at the first World Ranger Congress held in Poland in 1995. A Spanish version is also available.

See World Congress Reports for subsequent declarations.

IRF Statutes (right click to download PDF)

IRF Standing Rules (right click to download PDF)

For information on member reports, elections, and proposals for future World Ranger Congresses, go to the Congress page.

TOP OF PAGE | Home | How to Join:Membership : Enquiries : Directory
IRF News:What's New : Newsletter : Back Issues : Other Agencies | Training | Congress
Forums | Gallery | Contact Us

Locations of visitors to this page

©2002-09 International Ranger Federation | Site designed by Thelwell Consultants

Site maintained by imimi