Each year, the WCPA (World Commission on Protected Areas), along with Conservation Allies, Universal Ranger Support Alliance, and the IUCN, grant the International Ranger Awards to men and women rangers who tirelessly work to advance conservation, science, and education.
We are incredibly excited to announce that this year, at the IUCN Congress, our partners at FANAMBY in Madagascar received the International Ranger Award for their work safeguarding one of the most unique ecosystems in the world — the Allée des Baobabs in the western Menabe region. They were among 13 other rangers and teams of rangers that received this award — honoring these men and women’s dedication, fearlessness, and resilience in the face of danger, protecting species and habitats who can’t protect themselves.
The six FANAMBY women rangers patrol the ancient, mystical baobab trees on bicycles granted by Women for Conservation in 2024 — thanks to the bikes, they were able to reduce fire threats and vandalism by 88% compared to 2023. Not only do they patrol the trees, but they also hold environmental education sessions, teaching tourists and locals about the history and significance of the baobabs as well as the importance of fire safety in the dry savannah grasslands of western Madagascar.
This follows Women for Conservation’s previous successes in 2021 and 2023, when rangers supported by us and our partner organization ProAves, Ninfa Damaso and Cristian Andrés Vásquez Bermúdez, received the International Ranger Award for their work protecting Fundación ProAves’ Aguila Arpia Reserve and El Dorado Reserve. Ninfa and Cristian both protect thousands of hectares of forest from threats of illegal logging, hunting, and agriculture, and have created strong ties with the local communities by propagating environmental education initiatives for local children.
We are so proud of the six women rangers in Madagascar who are continuing this legacy of excellence in rangering, bravely protecting the earth’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
