To celebrate World Ranger Day on 31 July this year, we interviewed some of the Wildlife Rangers we support across Sumatra and Borneo. We asked them what they love about their role, some of the challenges they face, and how their work is making a difference. We’re delighted to share three of these stories here. Thank you to Sumini, Aries, and all Wildlife Rangers for the challenging and crucial work you do.
Ibu Sumini, a HAkA staff member, is Chair of the Damaran Baru Village Management Group and works closely with Sumatra’s first ever Women's Ranger Team
What do you love about your work?
“I wanted to be a ranger to protect the forest because that's where our source of life comes from - like our drinking water. Apart from protecting these natural resources that our community depends on, I want to know about the potential for green livelihoods that exist in our village forest area.”
What are some of the main challenges you face?
“My everyday role as a housewife is a challenge, because when patrolling and monitoring I leave my husband and children at home, but for me protecting the forest is also part of protecting our lives. The terrain is quite difficult to patrol for women but my team of women and I are not discouraged by that because of our passion to protect our forest.”
How is your work making a difference?
“In 2015, flash floods devastated our village and we knew that was because too many trees were cut down and the area had become too barren. Since beginning our patrols in the 251 hectares of this protected forest, logging has begun to decrease and poaching of animals like birds and serows is now minimal and starting to disappear.”
Aries is the Field Coordinator at the Sumatran Ranger Project, based in nothern Sumatra on the fringes of the Leuser Ecosystem
What do you love about your work?
What makes me love being a ranger is that I can dedicate my rest of life to protecting nature, both flora and fauna.
What are some of the main challenges you face?
The main challenge I face is uneducated communities who don't understand nature is very important for sustainability and life.
How is your work making a difference?
I campaign, educate, socialise, and implement with a good example of how to protect nature:
Campaigning for change Socialisation with local community (community outreach and engagement) Educating people on how important nature is Applying my knowledge through patrolling and monitoring Collecting data to stop poaching and all activities that harm nature
