This project supports women rangers on the ground protecting fragile, high-biodiversity Colombian ecosystems while also providing livelihoods for women in rural, low-income areas. Colombia suffers from devastating deforestation from illegal agriculture, land grabbing, and logging, with an annual tree cover loss of 233,445 ha. Local women are employed as rangers to patrol forests and report illegal activity, curbing environmental harm.
75,000 species exist in Colombia. Of these, 2,100 are vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. Many of those species are endemic. Every year, hundreds of thousands of acres of Colombian habitat are lost to illegal agriculture and logging, and hundreds of thousands of animals are lost to wildlife poaching, putting species at risk. Meanwhile, rural Colombian communities struggle with lack of economic opportunity, especially women. We help rural women fight biodiversity loss while earning a wage.
This project employs rural, low-income women as rangers who patrol and protect the forest from harmful illegal activity. Women gain valuable patrolling skills and work in community education to teach the importance of Colombia's native biodiversity. Rangers lead educational tours and restoration projects, gaining skills in ecotourism. Employing women as rangers offers a twofold solution: protecting endangered wildlife while creating economic opportunity for rural, low-income women.
As shown by our past success, women rangers offer a highly impactful solution to both problems. Women gain financial independence and can pursue fulfilling careers; meanwhile forests are protected from harmful activity, reducing harm to endangered species. 7 of our rangers received the International Ranger Award at the IUCN global congress -- Ninfa, who works in Colombia ProAves Reserves, and our 6 rangers in Madagascar who patrol the Allee des Baobabs.
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