Prince William announces initiative for Rangers to ‘protect our planet’

• Prince William announced his plans to launch an initiative to protect and support rangers during a speech on November 5 in Cape Town, South Africa
• The Prince of Wales mentioned the dangerous work rangers do to protect wildlife, and specifically mentioned the 2022 murder of Anton Mzimba, which has deeply affected him
• Prince William is in South Africa this week in support of the fourth awards ceremony of his Earthshot Prize, scheduled for November 6.

Prince William speaks out – and helps get practical support – for rangers on the front lines of the fight against the illegal wildlife trade.

During his second day in Cape Town, South Africa on November 5 – where the Prince of Wales, 42, will host his fourth annual Earthshot Prize Awards on November 6 – Prince William announced a new lifeline for rangers at the United for Wildlife 2024 Global Showcase, created to give them more protection for their dangerous work.

Prince William’s ambitious five-year plan will provide 10,000 rangers with access to appropriate, affordable insurance coverage, along with training and leadership development opportunities.

“South Africa is a country of immense natural beauty and remarkable biodiversity,” Prince William began his remarks at the United for Wildlife Global Showcase on November 5. “It is also a country that plays a crucial role in global conservation efforts. Unfortunately, the disturbing reality we face is that our planet’s natural systems are rapidly approaching an irreversible tipping point, driven by unprecedented nature loss and climate change.”

“Since 1970, we have witnessed a staggering 73% decline in the average size of global wildlife populations. That figure alone underlines the fragility of our ecosystems and the urgency of our mission. The illegal wildlife trade is a major driver of this decline, putting countless species at risk,” he continued. “It is a far-reaching problem that also undermines security and governance worldwide. In addition to its impact on nature, it fuels organized crime and is often intertwined with other illegal activities such as drug smuggling, arms trafficking and human exploitation. The growth of these criminal networks fosters environments where violence against law enforcement and conservationists becomes commonplace… and crucially, this crisis is not limited to one region. The ripple effects are profound for all of us.”

Prince William, together with The Royal Foundation, founded the United for Wildlife organization in 2013, a global alliance of the private sector, law enforcement agencies, governments and non-profit organizations working together to raise awareness and tackle cases of illegal practices, to disrupt and prevent. wildlife trade.

In the decade since its inception, significant steps have been made to end the illegal wildlife trade, William said.

“Today I can say with confidence that the fight against the illegal wildlife trade is no longer a marginal issue as it felt in 2014,” he said. “It has become a priority for world leaders and a focus for many of the world’s largest organizations. companies. While these international achievements are critical, we must also recognize those on the front lines… the rangers, indigenous peoples and local communities who are the guardians of our planet’s most precious resources.”

Turning to rangers in particular, he added: “Rangers are fundamental if we are to meet our 2030 global conservation goals and avoid the dangerous tipping points that threaten our planet. These people do much more than just protect wildlife. They are educators. They are community supporters. And they help regulate the sustainable use of natural resources. Yet far too often they lack sufficient support, with rangers in particular facing insufficient pay and protection.”

“This has come into sharper focus over the past two years, following the murder of Anton Mzimba here in South Africa,” William continued. “Anton was murdered in his home for doing his job… protecting the incredible biodiversity of this country. There are currently fewer than 300,000 rangers operating worldwide, but estimates suggest we need five times that number to meet our conservation obligations. We cannot protect our planet without a well-supported workforce.”

Mzimba was a South African ranger murdered by wildlife traffickers in 2022 after dedicating his working life to the protection of Africa’s wildlife. Prince William – who was in contact with Mzimba months before his death – said in 2023 that his killing was “a stark reminder of the daily dangers that all rangers around the world face in protecting the natural world from the international criminal organizations that seek to illegally profit from wildlife.”

A solutions-minded Prince William, who previously took a walk on November 5 to spend time with rangers monitoring a key habitat near Cape Town, has joined his United for Wildlife organisation, a favorite charity, Tusk Trust, and the Game brought together. Ranger Association of Africa to supply the new resource.

“This initiative aims to ensure rangers receive much-needed life insurance cover, giving them and their families the peace of mind that they are protected for the dangerous work they do,” Prince William said of the new initiative. “It will be led by those who protect nature, for those who protect nature, with a focus on establishing best practice. A strong and supported frontline is essential to end the illegal wildlife trade. But our efforts cannot stop there. We need to take a holistic approach, understanding the social, economic and environmental factors that drive this trade. We must work closely with local communities and ensure they are at the heart of conservation solutions.”

As he began wrapping up his remarks, Prince William said: “What happens over the next five years, especially in terms of ending the illegal wildlife trade, is crucial for the future of life on Earth. The urgency is palpable, because entire parts of the species chain are being removed. As we look to 2030 and beyond, we have the power and opportunity to change the trajectory. While the challenge is still complex, the path is now clearer.”

“We need to strengthen our networks, support those on the front lines and adopt innovative, community-based conservation strategies. Let’s build on our progress and commit to effective policies, deeper partnerships and more funding. This way we can create a future in which people and nature flourish. A future where the illegal wildlife trade is a thing of the past and our natural world is protected,” he said.

The United for Wildlife Showcase brought together world leaders in conservation, law enforcement and government with United for Wildlife’s Task Forces in Finance, Law, Transportation and E-Commerce to advance the shared mission of combating wildlife crime promote plants.

The Showcase opened a two-day summit for United for Wildlife that will provide participants with an opportunity to share ideas, lessons and best practices in this area. It will focus on three distinct elements: the global actions taken to end the illegal wildlife trade, the critical role park rangers play in supporting these efforts, and the vital partnerships between different organizations and sectors that will enable the end of illegal wildlife crime.

According to Prince William’s office at Kensington Palace, South Africa is a global leader in disrupting the illegal wildlife trade, with many of its initiatives becoming the basis of best practice around the world. The Showcase will also highlight the impact these initiatives have delivered, among other successes in the country and the wider African region.

“The South African government’s new visionary biodiversity policy, shaped through extensive public consultation, embraces a duty of care towards all aspects of biodiversity, ensuring that both people and nature can thrive,” William said. “It rightly recognizes that conservation cannot succeed without the support of the people who live alongside nature.”

United for Wildlife also announced support for leadership training for 60 conservationists to take place in the Kruger National Park over the next two years. The organization hopes to expand these initiatives in the coming years to serve people working on the frontlines of conservation worldwide.

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Prince William – who met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier in the day on November 5 – continued to build the relationship between Britain and South Africa and warmly thanked President Ramaphosa for his support of the Earthshot Prize Awards before it took place in Cape were organised. Town tomorrow evening, and he also mentioned the warm welcome he has received since arriving in South Africa on November 4.