| International News To keep up with the latest international news on Rangers around the world and protected areas visit the IRF's website at www.int-ranger.net You can also subscribe to Guardaparque, which a regular email update produced by Bill Halainen of the IRF. Go to our Downloads page to download the latest newsletters from the IRF. Also check out the IRF's website for upto date information on the IRF Congress to take place from the 2nd to 7th November 2009 and the Congress will be based at the 5 star Los Tajibos Hotel & Convention Centre in Santa Cruz, Bolivia | | Rick Gale one of the founders of the IRF passes away! This has been received from Bill Halainen, Editor of Guardaparque Death of IRF Founding Member Rick Gale It is with great sadness that we must report to you the death of Rick Gale, one of the original signers of the declaration establishing the International Ranger Federation in 1992. Rick died of a heart attack last Friday at his home in Boise, Idaho, in the U.S. Rick was president of the U.S. Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) during the late 1980s and early 1990s and was a strong supporter of international collaboration, communication and cooperation among rangers. When a meeting was called to discuss the creation of an international organization during the SCRA annual general meeting at Loch Lomond in Scotland in 1991, Rick immediately arranged to have an ANPR representative attend and sent along a message of full support for the creation of such an organization. Rick then flew to England in 1992 to participate in the signing ceremony at Peak District National Park. Rick didn’t limit his support of IRF to a signature on a document, though. He worked to support IRF in its formative years in any way possible and was a key player in arranging for a critical loan from ANPR to IRF to help fund the first Congress in Zakopane, Poland. Rick was a legend in the U.S. National Park Service, an outstanding leader known to all. He was a leader in establishing standards for rangers throughout the country, a visionary in the establishment of the emergency management system known as ICS (Incident Command System) that is now used by agencies across the United States and in other nations, one of the country’s most skilled and capable wildland fire managers, and much, much more. His extraordinary contributions were recognized at a ceremony at the White House in 1994 when President Clinton personally conferred on him the first-ever career Harry Yount ranger award, named for the country’s first park ranger. Rick Gale was the ultimate ranger – he lived and breathed the profession, and, as Americans say, "walked the walk." He was indispensable in supporting the ranger profession, in advancing ANPR, and in creating IRF. He is irreplaceable and will be greatly missed. A remembrance service will be held for him in Boise, Idaho, USA, on Friday 3rd April 2009 Condolences can be sent to the family online at http://www.sympathytree.com/rickgale1937/ . To read more about Rick’s extraordinary life and all the things he did to advance the ranger profession in the United States and around the world, go to http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2284 Thin Green Line Premiers at Various Sites throughout England - World Ranger Day 2007 As part of the ERA's World Ranger Day celebrations Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire played host to a Premier showing of Thin Green Line. About 50 Rangers and Volunteers enjoyed the documentary about the work of Rangers from around the World. 'Inspiring', Thought provoking and it moved me' were just some of the comments overheard by captivated audience. The money raised has been sent to the Thin Green Line Foundation and the IRF Rangers Dependants Fund. It is hoped to screen some repeat showings of the film to try anbd raise even more funds for the Foundation. For more information about the Thin Green Line Foundation or to order your copy visit www.thingreenline.info  Buy a shirt and help the dependants of African Rangers Every year in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) many Rangers that protect the Gorillas of Virunga National Park are killed or injured. DRC is very poor country and Rangers often do not get paid for months at a time. Yet these committed conservationists still do their duty. There is no real support system for the widows of Rangers, so by buying shirts made by the dependant relatives of these Rangers, you are helping to ease their financial burden. (please note that at present we have run out of shirts and are trying to arrange for some more to be sent to us - please be patient) | | IRF 6th World Congress 2009 The 6th World Ranger Congress is planned to take place in the Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Situated near the geographic centre of Bolivia in the tropical lowlands with the Cordillera Central as its backdrop, Santa Cruz is perfectly situated as a base to explore this country of many climes.
Despite recent floods in Bolivia, the IRF have confirmed that they still intend to hold the Congress in Bolivia during 2009.
The congress was orginally planned for March but will now take place in November 2009. If any ERA members are thinking about attending this event would you consider being the ERA's formal representative? Contact Steve Peach for more details (The hand over of the IRF's Flag to the Bolivian Rangers, ready for 2009!)  Foresta 2000 Ranger shot again
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
This morning at around 6 am Foresta 2000 ranger Ray Vella was shot on the head and his right ear by an aggressor wielding a shotgun at the Foresta 2000 afforestation site in Mellieha.
Mr Vella arrived at the west end of the Foresta 2000 afforestation site at around 6 am and found the gate of the project site forced open and the padlock broken. He got out of his jeep to shut the gate, leaving the engine running and the lights on. At that point he was shot in the head and ear by an aggressor hidden in nearby trees.
"We believe that this is no accident and Ray was ambushed by someone who was waiting for him. It was dawn and the lights of his jeep were on when he was inspecting the gate and the broken padlock." said Joseph Mangion, BirdLife Malta President during a press conference organized at the Din l-Art Helwa office in Valletta.
An ALE patrol unit arrived at the site shortly after the shooting. Mr Vella was taken to the Mater Dei hospital by an ambulance and treated by the Accident and Emergency ward. Fortunately Mr Vella only had an injury on his right ear and bruising to his head.
Martin Galea, Din l-Art Helwa president said "It is despicable this cowardly criminal element have targeted Ray for the fourth time. It is a testament to his courage and character that he has not been intimidated as is their aim. We call on the police to find the culprits, before the situation gets totally out of control."
This is one of many attacks Foresta Ranger suffered over the last two years. In a similar incident on the 1st of September 2007 Mr Vella, while tending to his field, was shot in the face by a hunter who then swore at Mr Vella and cursed BirdLife before fleeing away. On 1 June 2008, Mr Vella's family farm was set on fire, olive trees were uprooted, and oil was poured down his freshwater well. Mr Vella also suffered greatly when the Foresta 2000 project site that he cared for many years was targeted by vandals who uprooted and chopped down thousands of trees and shrubs in May 2007.
"Over the last two and a half years BirdLife Malta conservation sites, volunteers and staff have been seriously targeted over 20 times. In all these cases no one has been brought to justice." continued Mr Mangion. "This failure, therefore, protects the perpetrators of these crimes and gives them free rein to continue the abuse. We do not want to hear any more condemnations or promises that these criminals will be brought to justice but want to see results."
Police informed BirdLife and Din l-Art Helwa that investigations were ongoing.
Foresta 2000 afforestation project is a partnership between Din l-Art Helwa, BirdLife Malta and PARKS department of the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs. Ray Vella has been the Ranger of the project site since 2004.
BirdLife International appalled by new act of violence against conservationist in Malta
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
BirdLife International strongly condemned yesterday's attack against a nature reserve ranger in Malta. In the early morning of April 14th, Ray Vella, working for the "Foresta 2000" afforestation project was shot on the head and his right ear by an aggressor when inspecting the project area in Mellieha. Foresta 2000 is a partnership of BirdLife Malta, the Parks Department of the Maltese Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and Din l-Art Helwa - the National Trust of Malta.
Dr. Clairie Papazoglou, Regional Director of BirdLife for Europe at BirdLife International stated: "We strongly condemn this criminal act. The international Partnership of BirdLife expresses its full solidarity and support to BirdLife Malta and to all others who work for nature conservation in a non-violent and legal way."
BirdLife is alarmed by the lack of action from the side of the government: "Over the last two and a half years BirdLife Malta conservation sites, volunteers and staff have been seriously targeted over 20 times. In all these cases no one has been brought to justice." said Joseph Mangion, BirdLife Malta President.
"Last October the Maltese Prime Minister, Mr Lawrence Gonzi, assured BirdLife International in a letter that all perpetrators are brought to justice" continued Dr Papazoglou. "We finally want to see this happen. The government must live up to its responsibility to enforce the law and ensure the security of citizens and visitors." | |