A report on 25 years of help for wildlife warriors by the Wildlife Belief of India (WTI) has highlighted the position of India’s forest protectors.
The report, Nature’s Guardians: Supporting India’s Frontline Forestry Personnel, options 540 rangers who had been killed or injured within the line of responsibility. Contains private narratives from the sector.
A WTI spokesperson mentioned the report was launched by Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Surroundings, Forest and Local weather Change, in Abu Dhabi on Saturday (October 11, 2025). It was launched along with WTI Govt Director and IUCN Advisor Vivek Menon, IFAW President and CEO Azzedine Downes, IUCN-WPCA President Madhu Rao and Abu Dhabi Surroundings Company Secretary Normal Shaikha Salem al Dhaheri.
IUCN, IFAW and WPCA broaden into the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature, the Worldwide Fund for Animal Welfare and the World Fee on Protected Areas, respectively.
The report, launched through the IUCN-WCPA Worldwide Ranger Awards Ceremony on the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, highlights the crucial position and immense challenges confronted by India’s frontline forestry employees, the “unsung heroes” who safeguard the nation’s wealthy biodiversity.
India’s Van Rakshaks, recognized worldwide as forest rangers, are liable for defending greater than 1,100 protected areas and numerous different forests and pure habitats. Their duties embody 24-hour patrolling, wildlife monitoring, human-wildlife battle mitigation, combating wildlife crime and responding to emergencies, typically below life-threatening circumstances.
WTI launched the Van Rakshak Venture (VRP) in 2000 with help from IFAW. The target was to construct a powerful, well-equipped and motivated power of frontline forestry personnel throughout India. The challenge supported greater than 21,000 workers throughout the nation by means of a variety of capacity-building initiatives.
These embody coaching workshops targeted on wildlife crime prevention, human-wildlife battle mitigation and primary wildlife rescue methods. It additionally includes the supply of important discipline gear, essential for patrolling and safety.
A key element of the VRP is the Supplementary Accident Insurance coverage Scheme, which offers speedy monetary help to frontline forestry personnel, together with short-term and each day employees, within the occasion of harm or dying within the line of responsibility.
Since 2001, monetary help has been supplied to 367 frontline employees or their households, with virtually 74% of those instances involving fatalities. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, WTI prolonged help to 173 households of forestry employees who misplaced their lives by means of a devoted Conservation Heroes COVID Damage Fund.
“The numerous dangers confronted by India’s frontline forestry personnel underscore the significance of guaranteeing their well-being. The report displays WTI’s dedication to defending the pursuits of frontline personnel and confirms that wildlife conservation is simplest when undertaken from the bottom up,” Singh mentioned.
“This report honors the braveness, resilience and sacrifice of India’s Van Rakshaks and highlights the pressing want for extra funding, recognition and help for individuals who shield our pure heritage,” mentioned Menon.
“Frontline forest employees are the spine of conservation, typically risking their lives to guard wildlife and their habitats. For over 20 years, IFAW has stood in solidarity with these courageous people throughout India, supporting them, studying from them and witnessing their extraordinary braveness,” mentioned Mr.
Printed – October 12, 2025, 3:16 pm IST
Leave a Reply