The
Federation holds a World Congress every 2 to 3 years as an international
forum for rangers and an opportunity to involve other international
agencies and organizations in protected area management.
The First Congress was held in Zakopane, Poland
in 1995 and resulted in the Zakopane Declaration.
The Third Congress was organised in Kruger
National Park, South Africa and addressed the issues of area integrity,
working with communities and ecotourism.
The Fourth
Congress took
place at Wilsons Promontory National Park, in the State of Victoria,
Australia in March 2003. Issues addressed were; Building Community
Support, Managing the Masses and Healthy Habitats.
The Fifth Congress was held in the historic city
of Stirling, Scotland, in June 2006. Issues addressed were: Access -
Managing access from doorstep to wilderness; Benefits - Sharing
environmental values and perceptions; Connections - Benefiting people and
places; and Delivery - Making the connections work.
A highly motivated delegation of 40
rangers from 21 countries around the world made a significant impact on
the IUCN 5th World Parks Congress in Durban in September 2003. Major
issues relating to those who work at the grass roots in protected areas
were discussed and formed an important part of the outcomes of the most
important congress of protected areas professionals in 10 years.
South African Junior Rangers, young stars of the World
Parks Congress, with IRF delegates
The Seventh World Ranger Congress will be held at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, near Arusha National Park in northern Tanzania, November 4-9, 2012.
The theme of the congreaa is :
HEALTHY PARKS, HUNGRY PEOPLE
Working towards Healthy Parks, dealing with Hungry People
For full details on the Congress, venue, registration, field trips, congress tours, abstract submissions and much more; go to the congress website:
