Dear friends and colleagues,
The IRF and IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) call for nominations for the prestigious
YOUNG CONSERVATIONIST AWARD
The award aims to recognize and raise awareness of the outstanding contributions made to the management of protected areas, and leadership shown, by young conservationists. It also seeks to encourage young professionals and help them develop networks by inviting winners to join WCPA.
Nominations/applications are invited for/from: young people working in conservation and actively managing protected areas. This includes all people working in protected areas, such as (but not limited to) rangers, interpreters, people working with local communities, policy makers, scientists, and, includes people working for government agencies, the private sector, non-government organizations, local communities, etc.
Nominations/applications must be submitted for/by:
- young field practitioners (under the age of 35)
- for any outstanding contribution (single incident or sustained/ongoing commitment) towards protected area management (from a local to a global scale)
The young professional’s work must show:
1. Extreme dedication to protected areas
2. Capacity to deal with adversity
3. Working over and above the normal call of duty.
The Young Conservationist Award Review Panel will judge the degree to which the candidate demonstrates:
- Passion, dedication and commitment
- Degree of innovation (thinking outside of the box)
- Self sacrifice (time, costs, physical, bravery, etc)
- Scale/extent/magnitude/impact of contribution (area and duration).
Submissions:
- an updated CV (maximum two pages)
- letters from referees (maximum of three)
- a short submission (maximum of 450 words) on the nominee’s contribution, with special reference on how this contribution benefited/s and improved/s protected area management.
Benefits for the awardee:
- IRF/WCPA Young Conservationist Award Certificate
- Membership in WCPA, the world's premier network of protected area experts
- Publicity on WCPA and IRF websites
Applications should be sent preferably via e-mail to:
Djinn Pourkiani
Programme on Protected Areas
The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Rue Mauverney 28
Gland, CH-1196, Switzerland
Phone: + 41 (22) 999-0161
Fax: + 41 (22) 999 0025
E-mail: djinn.pourkiani@iucn.org
Deadline for submissions: 28 April, 2008 |
World Ranger Day
July 31
Join in recognizing the Thin Green Line of park protectors
WHAT IS WORLD RANGER DAY?
The International Ranger Federation was founded to support the work of Rangers as the key protectors of the world’s protected areas. At the World Ranger Congress 2006 in Scotland, IRF delegates decided that July 31 of each year, beginning in 2007, would be a day dedicated to world rangers. The first World Ranger Day fell on the 15th anniversary of the founding of IRF on July 31, 1992. The first World Ranger Day involved dozens of events around the globe, many showing a premiere of the ranger-produced film “The Thin Green Line.”
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
IRF is calling on its member associations, protected area agencies, individual rangers, sponsors, and the world public to initiate or join in an event or activity that recognises world conservation areas, and the professional staff – the Rangers – that form the Thin Green Line around these most valuable resources.
Ways in which you can recognise World Ranger Day:
- Invite the public to join your park in paying a moment’s respect to rangers who have lost their lives in the course of duty.
- Host a ranger seminar – collaborate with different Protected Area agencies in your geographic area.
- Mention the role of the world’s Rangers in a scheduled guided walk or talk with park visitors and partners.
- Host a special public event in or near your park dedicated to the work of Rangers in your particular area.
- Meet with your local communities, partners, and supporting groups to talk about the role of Rangers, the work of the IRF, and how they can help support Rangers and protected areas.
- Visit a school – engage the youth in the future of world parks, biodiversity, and conservation.
- Invite a Ranger from another country or park to join you and your co-workers for a week in your park, to include July 31.
- If you are a Ranger, meet with your colleagues to discuss World Ranger Day and the role of Rangers, including the work of IRF.
- Using World Ranger Day events, seek partners and donors interested in supporting and sustaining the work in your protected area, and the IRF.
- Have fun! Celebrate your role in protecting the world’s natural and cultural treasures.
A LITTLE HISTORY
World Parks
In 1872, Yellowstone National Park in the United States became the world’s first federally designated national park. Since then, according to the IUCN, over 100,000 protected areas, representing more than 10% of the earth’s landmass, have been established around the world.
World Rangers
The English word “ranger” reflects the guardians of the Royal Forests in 14th century England, protecting the King’s lands from poachers. Today, Rangers in protected areas throughout the world continue this role for the public, not just for the royal families. Rangers are the key force protecting these resources from impairment. They do this through law enforcement, environmental education, community relations, fighting fires, conducting search and rescues, and in many many other ways. |
