10TH WORLD CONGRESS IN HYÈRES, FRANCE

The 10th IRF World Congress was a landmark event, where the main theme was "Contributing to and advancing the work of conservationists to achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework (30 x 30 target)".

The 2022 Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) sets a target to effectively protect and manage at least 30% of the Earth's land and sea area by 2030. Given their key role in protected areas and other conservation spaces, rangers are an indispensable workforce in achieving this goal internationally.

The severity of biodiversity loss, climate change and its impacts on the population are an integral part of the lives of all of us who face environmental devastation on a daily basis, both at home and abroad.

Whether we like it or not, the increase in world population and global consumption is unsustainable and its toll is being felt in the devastation of the world's ecosystems. Every action we take has a consequence in the form of the loss of the last corners of wilderness, which is disappearing day by day.

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It is thanks to the work of conservationists, many organisations and individuals who are aware of these impacts that the true value of planet Earth - its biodiversity and, above all, its functionality - is being defended. However, without the public and their deeper concern, this will not happen as quickly as the decline itself.

There are currently only around 285 0000 conservationists in the world, which is totally inadequate. One important way to achieve the 30x30 target is to increase the number of rangers (well equipped and trained) to at least 1.5 million rangers to achieve this target.

It is for these reasons that 30x30 commitments are so important and need support not only morally, but also physically, i.e. in the field and, last but not least, financially. Our actions decide the future, where the only animal component should not be man and man alone.

HYÈRES DECLARATION 2024

At the 9th Congress in 2019 in Nepal, the Chitwan Declaration was created, which did not just stay with words, but became a commitment with a significant impact on the work of rangers, to provide recognition and support for their work in protecting the biodiversity and cultural richness of our planet. It became an important pillar for the 10th Congress and the creation of the Hyères Ranger Declaration, 2024.
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You can read the full declaration read here.

We would like to thank the International Ranger Federation and the French Association for hosting the 10th World Congress in Hyères. It was an honor to be here.

Congratulations to the newly elected IRF Board of Directors for the period 2024-2027.