The five-year Ranger Welfare and Standards initiative was launched in Cape Town at United for Wildlife, a summit founded by the Prince and the Royal Foundation in 2014.
Prince William announced on Tuesday, during a visit to South Africa, the provision of financial support and training for African forest rangers.
The five-year Ranger Welfare and Standards initiative was launched in Cape Town at United for Wildlife, a summit founded by the Prince and the Royal Foundation in 2014.
10,000 guards involved
It should allow 10,000 rangers on the continent to have access to “appropriate and affordable insurance during employment and in the event of medical evacuation”, according to a palace press release.
“These people do much more than protect wildlife. They are educators. They support communities. And they help regulate the sustainable use of natural resources,” the Prince of Wales said in a speech.
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“We cannot protect our planet without them, which is why this initiative aims to ensure that rangers have much-needed life insurance cover,” he added.
Official visit
The program was developed by the African Ranger Association, the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife program and the Tusk Trust, of which the Prince of Wales is patron.
According to a report by the International Ranger Federation, only 38% of them have access to life insurance and less than 60% have received adequate health and safety training.
The prince arrived in South Africa on Monday for his first official visit since 2010 and his first visit to Africa since 2018, when he visited Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya.
