Honoring Heroes: IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award 2025
Rangers are conservation’s frontline defenders—monitoring wildlife, preventing poaching, fighting fires, conducting research, and engaging communities, often with little recognition and enormous risk. In the past 15 years alone, more than 1,500 rangers have been killed on duty. Since 2021, the IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award has allocated $630,000, directly benefitting 375 rangers and indirectly supporting countless ranger families, protected area staff, and local communities. The Award, presented at the 2025 World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, celebrates those who exemplify incredible courage and dedication while facing extraordinary challenges to safeguard the planet’s most at-risk wild spaces. The recipients of the 2025 IUCN-WCPA International Ranger Awards are: Rodrigue Katembo Mugaruka, Deputy Park Manager, Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo – recognized for courageously defending DRC territory against corruption and exploitation. Tuzlovski Lymany National Nature Park Ranger Team, Ukraine (seven members) – recognized for valiantly protecting Ukraine’s estuaries and wildlife during ongoing conflict. Al Shouf Cedars Nature Reserve Ranger Team, Lebanon (10 members) – recognized for defending Lebanon’s forests while empowering surrounding communities. Union-Palm Island Environmental Alliance Rangers Team, St Vincent and the Grenadines (seven members) – recognized for relentlessly maintaining conservation work following natural disaster. Lazizbek Khasanov, Head of the Department for Monitoring the Use of Resources, Ugam-Chatkal State National Park, Uzbekistan – recognized for diligently combating logging and poaching as a young ranger. Benjamin Yworega Bassono, Anti-Poaching Coordinator, Pô-Nazinga-Sissili Protected Areas Complex, Burkina Faso – recognized for expertly directing extensive anti-poaching and habitat restoration programs. Benson Kanyembo, Law Enforcement Advisor, South Luangwa, Zambia – recognized for consistently protecting Zambian wildlife and mentoring scouts over thirty years. Jampel Lhendup, Forest Ranger, Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan – recognized for rehabilitating endangered species and turning poachers into conservation advocates. Kiunga Marine National Reserve Ranger Team, Kenya (six members) – recognized for effectively protecting coral reefs, mangroves, and marine ecosystems throughout island areas. Allée des Baobabs Protection and Management Team, Madagascar (10 members) – recognized for boldly defending Madagascar’s forests against fire and human encroachment. Safarbi Davlatova, Forest Protection Inspector, Dashtijum Nature Reserve, Tajikistan – recognized for championing gender equality while conserving critically endangered species. Saidvaa National Park and southern Parvar Protected Area Ranger Team, Iran (nine members) – recognized for persistently addressing social and ecological obstacles to further conservation goals. Punta Patiño Private Natural Reserve Ranger Team, Panamá (seven members) – recognized for reliably safeguarding 30,000 hectares of rainforest, mangroves, and coastal areas. These awards do more than honor individual commitment—they raise global awareness of rangers’ critical role, motivate others through real-life stories, and provide tangible support that helps recipients continue their vital work. Every exceptional ranger recognized represents thousands more protecting our planet’s blue and green spaces for nature and humanity alike.
Asia-Pacific Conservation Leaders Gather at the IUCN World Conservation Congress
Conservation Allies and our Asia-Pacific partners came together today at WCC 2025 to share strategies for addressing the region’s pressing conservation challenges, from agricultural expansion and infrastructure development to poaching and human-wildlife conflict. In an energizing day of conservation networking, partners exchanged insights on community engagement and policy innovation, identified opportunities to scale up proven strategies, and forged new collaborations across the region’s biodiversity hotspots. One notable achievement comes from our partner Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF), as they have saved over 14,000 acres of ancient biodiversity forests across 120 villages in the northern Western Ghats—a global biodiversity hotspot. AERF also established the first community reserve in the Western Ghats dedicated to Endangered species including the Indian ground pangolin, Asiatic wild dog, Indian leopard, and Great hornbill. Furthermore, NGO Forum on Cambodia is advancing environmental policy reform to connect critical green spaces, while Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation is training wildlife enforcement officers in the Philippines. In Sumatra, Belantara Foundation tackles human-elephant conflict through innovative resolution programs. RSPN Bhutan rounds out this dynamic network of grassroots conservationists with their dedication to conserving the Critically Endangered White-bellied heron. Their work demonstrates what’s possible when local expertise meets long-term partnership. Conservation Allies is proud to stand alongside these organizations doing the hard work of protecting Asia’s irreplaceable biodiversity.
Conservation Allies Partners across Latin America Unite at the World Conservation Congress
In an exciting week of international conservation collaboration, Conservation Allies and ten of our Latin American partners convened today at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. Our partners are tackling urgent threats throughout Latin America—deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat fragmentation—with innovative, community-driven solutions. This year’s gathering showcases remarkable achievements: Defensores de la Naturaleza (Guatemala) now protects 14% of Guatemala’s National System of Protected Areas and recently completed the Biological Station “Hector Centeno” at Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve—a living laboratory for ecosystem research. FUNDAECO (Guatemala) has pioneered co-ownership of nature reserves with indigenous communities while supporting over 20 women’s health clinics and scholarships. AESMO (Honduras) has secured more than 5,930 acres for perpetual conservation through co-management with Indigenous partners ADOPTA (Panama) has described over 25 new species with 50+ more pending publication! Additional partners presenting include ANCON, Fundación Cambugan, Fundación ProAves, Así Conserva Chile, and Ekos Brasil (and Moises Bertoni in attendance)—each demonstrating how local expertise and international support create lasting conservation success. Through Conservation Action Awards totaling over $8.5 million, year-end matching funds for core operational needs, and promotion of fundraising appeals to our US donor network, Conservation Allies empowers organizations making measurable impact on the ground. We are very grateful to the UAE government for supporting all the costs (flights, accommodation, food, etc.) for our partners to participate in the World Conservation Congress.
Restoring Sumatra’s Ancient Forests: How Belantara Foundation is Becoming a Lifeline for Sumatran Tigers and Elephants
In the heart of Sumatra’s rapidly disappearing rainforests, the Forest Restoration Project by the Belantara Foundation is an ambitious initiative breathing life back into one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. A Critical Conservation Battleground The Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve spans 1.7 million acres of pristine peatland forest in Riau Province, Sumatra. This UNESCO-designated reserve serves as the last sanctuary for Critically Endangered Sumatran tigers and elephants, along with sun bears, clouded leopards, and Malayan tapirs. The peat swamp forests store massive amounts of carbon and house 189 plant species, with 29 classified as Endangered. Yet this ecological treasure faces unprecedented threats. Riau Province has witnessed devastating deforestation, with forest cover plummeting from 78% in 1982 to just 22% by 2009 due to illegal logging, palm oil expansion, and catastrophic forest fires. Seeds of Hope Since August 2020, Belantara Foundation’s Forest Restoration Project has systematically replanted degraded areas with native Indonesian tree species. The project has successfully restored 232 acres within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, transforming barren areas back into thriving forest habitat. This collaborative initiative works with local communities, governments, and the private sector using a multi-stakeholder approach. The project is funded through innovative corporate partnerships, including donations from paper manufacturer APP’s product sales – creating a direct link between responsible consumption and forest restoration. Global Impact The project directly contributes to four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while providing sustainable economic opportunities for over 120,000 local residents who depend on the forest for their livelihoods. By focusing on peatland restoration, the initiative tackles climate change at its source – reforestation is recognized as one of the most effective climate change measures. Belantara Foundation aims to restore at least 25 acres of degraded peatland annually, serving as a model for landscape-scale restoration that other regions can adapt. Want to help them succeed? You can support Belantara’s conservation activities by donating to them today. Every acre restored helps protect biodiversity, fight climate change, and secure a healthier future for both people and wildlife.
Saving one of Madagascar’s most Endangered Forests
Conservation Allies supports critical protective actions and law enforcement for the unique dry forests of Bemarivo Reserve Deep in the remote Melaky region of northwest Madagascar lies the Bemarivo Special Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot that’s fighting for survival. This protected forest has already lost an alarming 64% of its original cover to illegal logging, but thanks to decisive action from our partner, there’s new hope for its recovery. The Crisis at Bemarivo Madagascar is home to more unique and endemic species at risk of extinction than anywhere else on Earth. The Bemarivo Special Reserve should be a safe haven for this incredible biodiversity, but illegal land grabs inside the Reserve have resulted in logging and clearing of the forest for farming. These illegal activities don’t just harm wildlife–they also set dangerous fires that can spread rapidly through the dry forest, destroying even more habitat and threatening ecosystems. Taking Action on the Ground Conservation Allies is supporting our local partner, TANJONA Association, in launching the first-ever Conservation Brigades in the Melaky region of Madagascar. Working closely with local government authorities (DREDD Melaky), the team carried out a comprehensive mission to stop further deforestation and protect what’s left of Bemarivo’s forests. The five-part operation included: Building Official Support: TANJONA presented their conservation plan to regional authorities and secured official backing for their protection efforts, including the deployment of a specialized Conservation Brigade. Coordinating Protection Forces: The team organized joint patrols with law enforcement officers to create a unified approach to forest protection. Educating Communities: Conservation officers visited nearby villages to explain why the reserve and its forests matter–not just for wildlife, but for clean water, climate stability, and long-term community wellbeing. Removing Illegal Settlements: Patrol teams discovered about 20 camps where people were illegally growing crops inside the Reserve. The occupants were escorted out of the Reserve. Installing Visible Deterrents: Eight new Reserve boundary signs were installed around the Reserve to clearly mark protected boundaries and remind people of the protections in place. Why This Matters This operation represents a turning point for forest conservation in Madagascar’s Bemarivo Special Reserve. By combining law enforcement with community education, the Conservation Brigades are addressing both the immediate threat and the underlying causes of forest destruction. Madagascar has already lost over 85% of its original forests, making every remaining Protected Area critically important for the island’s unique species. A Model for the Future This coordinated approach–bringing together government authorities, security forces, and local communities–is already showing results. The visible enforcement presence and community awareness campaigns are creating new respect for forest boundaries and wildlife protection laws. By backing local organizations like TANJONA Association, we’re helping protect some of the world’s most irreplaceable ecosystems while building the enforcement capacity needed for long-term success.
Building Guatemala’s First Scientific Tourism Corridor
Defensores de la Naturaleza and Conservation Allies are transforming the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve into a model of community-led conservation. In the misty highlands of Guatemala’s Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, what began as a remote biological research station is evolving into one of Central America’s most innovative approaches to conservation finance—a sustainable scientific tourism corridor that places local communities at the center of protecting one of the region’s most biodiverse ecosystems. From Crisis to Opportunity When Defensores de la Naturaleza, Conservation Allies’ partner and Guatemala’s second-largest environmental NGO, was forced to downsize its staff by nearly one-third after USAID reduced funding in early 2025, many conservation projects across the country faced an uncertain future. Rather than retreat, our partner organization doubled down on an ambitious vision: transforming the Hector Centeno Biological Station within the Sierra de las Minas Reserve into a sustainable tourism destination that could fund long-term conservation efforts. The results of this collaboration between Conservation Allies, Defensores, and IUCN are already visible. The biological station is receiving infrastructure upgrades such as solar panels, Starlink internet, modern laboratory equipment, and improved lodging—all scheduled for completion by February 2026. A Tourism Model That Truly Serves Conservation What makes this initiative unique is its multi-tiered approach to sustainable tourism. Rather than simply opening Protected Areas to mass tourism, the project creates tailored experiences for different types of visitors while safeguarding the area’s scientific integrity. Scientific Tourism: In March 2026, the University of Arizona’s “Mammal Watching” group will be the first to pilot the route, representing a growing market of researchers and citizen scientists seeking authentic field experiences. Low-Impact Adventure Tourism: Guatemala’s reputation for challenging mountain treks gains a new destination with a signature 45-minute hike to Peña del Ángel, offering spectacular cloud forest views from the biological station. Community Integration: The project actively involves communities living around the protected area. Local coffee estates provide accommodation and showcase sustainable agriculture, while the proximal El Duraznal community demonstrates an in-progress transition, guided by Defensores, from conventional farming to resilient agroforestry systems. Beyond Tourism: Addressing Critical Threats The project is taking shape at a crucial time. In 2024, wildfires burned more than 5,000 acres of forest in the Sierra de las Minas, highlighting how quickly decades of conservation progress can be undone. By directly funding ranger patrols in the area, Conservation Allies is strengthening on-the-ground protection and building local capacity to respond to threats. When combined with tourism revenue, these resources provide a more resilient financial foundation for safeguarding 1.1 million acres of Defensores protected forests. A Template for Conservation Finance The Sierra de las Minas tourism corridor represents more than just another ecotourism project. It demonstrates how conservation organizations can build sustainable funding models that reinforce rather than dilute their core conservation mission. By creating economic opportunities for local communities while maintaining scientific research capabilities, the project tackles one of conservation’s greatest challenges: securing long-term protection in resource-limited economies. The collaborative approach—uniting international funders, local NGOs, government agencies, universities, and Indigenous communities—offers a replicable model for other biodiversity hotspots facing similar pressures. Looking Ahead As visitors begin arriving at the Hector Centeno Biological Station in 2026, they will experience more than Guatemala’s stunning cloud forests and endemic species. They will witness a living example of how conservation, community development, and sustainable tourism can converge to secure lasting protection for some of Central America’s most irreplaceable ecosystems.
Conservation Allies Building Capacity to Protect Parks in Peril
This summer, Conservation Allies’ leadership joined our three Madagascar Conservation Officers for an intensive month of conservation work across the island. The focus was on strengthening partnerships, training local teams in practical conservation tools, and supporting proven strategies that protect Madagascar’s unique ecosystems. Major Success in Core Zone Protection Our partnership with Madagasikara Voakajy produced significant results at the Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra site this year. Between November 2024 and January 2025, a large-scale conservation brigade involving multiple government agencies successfully removed 417 illegal structures and relocated approximately 1,080 people from core conservation zones. When teams returned in February for a control mission, they found zero returns to the core zone – demonstrating that well-coordinated enforcement can achieve lasting results. This type of coordinated effort between local organizations and government agencies represents the practical approach needed to protect Madagascar’s most critical habitats from encroachment and illegal activities. We also met with women’s societies in two villages and observed nursery operations, highlighting how conservation work extends beyond enforcement to include community engagement and restoration efforts. Training Programs Show Immediate Impact We conducted capacity-building workshops in both northern and southern Madagascar, training 62 participants from 24 partner organizations in essential conservation tools, including Global Forest Watch for deforestation monitoring, SMART technology for patrol planning, drone operations, and Conservation Brigade coordination. The approach focused on practical skills that teams could implement immediately rather than theoretical concepts. The training proved effective quickly. Within two weeks, Madagascar National Parks at Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park used Global Forest Watch alerts to successfully apprehend five offenders involved in deforestation activities. Similarly, Conservation Allies partner Antrema Miray intercepted three individuals engaged in illegal tree cutting after receiving real-time alerts. These results demonstrate how technology tools can enhance traditional conservation methods when properly integrated into existing operations. The workshops also addressed practical challenges like bringing traditional authorities during patrols for some protected areas while avoiding local community participation in others, depending on site-specific security concerns. Building on Established Partnerships Our participation in the International Primatological Society Congress in Antananarivo connected us with over 800 attendees and reinforced partnerships with key organizations including GERP, Fanamby, Ny Tanintsika, Madagasikara Voakajy, Lemur Conservation Foundation, Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, Biodiversity Conservation Madagascar, CURSA, and Madagascar National Parks. The congress provided valuable opportunities to coordinate with partners and learn from presentations by researchers and practitioners working across Madagascar’s conservation landscape. We also held strategic meetings with Madagascar National Parks and FAPBM to prepare for the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in October, where partners will celebrate significant milestones: FAPBM’s 20th anniversary, Madagascar National Parks’ 35th anniversary, and Madagasikara Voakajy’s 20th anniversary. These long-term partnerships form the foundation for sustained conservation impact across Madagascar. The summer also brought encouraging news that UNESCO removed the “Rainforests of the Atsinanana” World Heritage site from the Danger List. This site includes six protected areas in eastern Madagascar, including Andohahela, where Conservation Allies provide ongoing support, representing years of collective conservation efforts paying off. Conservation Allies President, Paul Salaman, working in Andohahela Protected Area. Infrastructure and Next Steps Working with Madagascar National Parks and Association Fosa, we’re supporting essential infrastructure development in Ankarafantsika National Park (NW Madagascar), including establishing a surveillance base in the Grand Savannah and rehabilitating access roads to zones facing deforestation and fire threats. These practical investments in conservation infrastructure enable more effective long-term protection of critical areas. Our monitoring data from the south of the country show that sites like Zombitse, Complex Mangoky-Ihotry, Corridor Fandriana-Vonrozo (COFAV), Midongy du Sud, Ranobe PK 32, and Andohahela face the highest deforestation pressure, with slash-and-burn farming being a primary driver. This data guides our decision to visit at least one of these high-threat sites monthly and continue expanding the successful training and technology programs that proved effective this summer across our 15 supported protected areas. The intensive conservation work across Madagascar this summer demonstrates that coordinated efforts can achieve lasting results. The success at Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra and the immediate achievements of technology-trained teams prove that practical, implementable solutions work when properly supported. As Conservation Allies expands these proven strategies across Madagascar, the focus remains on building local capacity and strengthening partnerships to safeguard the island’s irreplaceable biodiversity for future generations.
Conservation Allies Supports Critical Action Plan for one of Colombia’s most endangered species
Conservation Allies recently supported our partner Fundación ProAves in a pivotal conservation milestone, when over 60 representatives from Colombia’s leading environmental institutions gathered to develop an urgent National Conservation Action Plan for the Critically Endangered Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti). A Species on the Brink The Blue-billed Curassow is endemic to Colombia’s Magdalena rainforests and has suffered a catastrophic decline. Over the past 25 years, the species has lost an estimated 93% of its viable habitat due to deforestation and hunting, with its range shrinking from 2,965,141 acres in 1999 to just 284,217 acres in 2024. ProAves and many other conservation organizations emphasized the urgency: Crax alberti is perhaps Colombia’s most iconic bird species, long recognized and honored by indigenous communities in their gold icons of the species. Unfortunately, over the last 25 years, we estimate that Crax alberti has lost almost all of its viable habitat due to deforestation and hunting, so it is likely that the population has possibly declined by 95% or more. It is estimated that only around 1,000 mature individuals now survive in scattered forest patches across five Colombian departments, with key populations persisting in isolated protected areas like the El Paujil Bird Reserve, created by ProAves in 2004. Six Pillars for Conservation The national meeting resulted in a comprehensive framework built around six strategic pillars: Habitat Protection & Management – Expand protected habitats and ecological corridors Policy & Legal Instruments – Strengthen enforcement against hunting and nature crimes Research & Monitoring – Establish regional monitoring and research networks Actions Against Hunting & Illegal Trade – Coordinated national enforcement efforts Captive Breeding & Reintroduction Programs – Strategic population recovery initiatives Community Engagement – Inclusive conservation with local communities Looking Forward As Paloma Carrillo, Executive Director of Fundación ProAves, stated: “This meeting reaffirms the urgency and importance of joining forces to save the Blue-billed Curassow. Only by working together, institutionally, communally and scientifically, can we guarantee a future for this spectacular species.” A comprehensive National Action Plan will now be developed to coordinate actions at local, regional, and national levels, with the ultimate goal of halting the species’ decline and ensuring its long-term survival. Conservation Allies remains committed to supporting ProAves and other partners in this crucial conservation effort. Through unified action, there is hope that this “guardian of biodiversity and forest health” can be pulled back from the brink of extinction.
New Species of Dragonfly Named for Conservation Allies Supporter
In the misty forests of Colombia’s northern Central Andes, a team of researchers uncovered something extraordinary: a new species of dragonfly found within Reserva Natural Los Magnolios, a cloud forest reserve managed by our partner Corporación SalvaMontes. This elegant insect is the first of its genus ever recorded in Colombia’s Central Andean cloud forests. It’s likely Endangered, with only one individual being found after extensive fieldwork, making its presence in this small reserve both rare and significant. The discovery has recently been published in the scientific journal Zootaxa. The new species’ name, Archaeopodagrion oelmannae, was chosen by a Conservation Allies supporter after making a donation to SalvaMontes! It’s a unique and lasting way to support conservation and be part of scientific history. Conservation Allies donors play a critical role in sustaining the vital protection of the habitats where endangered species survive—places like Reserva Natural Los Magnolios, which faces constant pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion. Discoveries like this one remind us just how much of the natural world remains to be understood, and how fragile it is. We’re proud to support the work of SalvaMontes and to offer meaningful ways for donors to get involved in global wildlife conservation.
Celebrating 20 Years of Conservation Impact: FAPBM’s Anniversary and a Growing Collaboration with Conservation Allies
On June 19, the Madagascar Protected Areas and Biodiversity Fund (La Fondation pour les Aires Protégées et la Biodiversité de Madagascar, FAPBM) marked its 20th anniversary in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Since 2023, Conservation Allies and FAPBM have worked together to advance strategic conservation priorities across Madagascar. This year, our teams have been closely coordinating Madagascar’s participation in the upcoming World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, further strengthening the shared commitment to elevating Madagascar’s voice on the global conservation stage. Just this month, leaders from Conservation Allies and FAPBM met in the capital Antananarivo to chart the next steps, including plans to update the Madagascar Protected Areas Outlook, an essential guide for conservation management in Madagascar, for 2025 and host dedicated events at the World Conservation Congress to showcase the impactful work of our partners on a global scale. FAPBM’s 20th anniversary celebration was both a recognition of past achievements and a call to accelerate collective action. Over the past two decades, FAPBM has invested millions to protect Madagascar’s extraordinary natural heritage—supporting 75 Protected Areas covering over 14.8 million acres, sheltering 500 endemic species, and sustaining thousands of local livelihoods. For Conservation Allies, collaborating with FAPBM—a uniquely Malagasy funding body—represents an important step in aligning resources, knowledge, and networks with local organizations to protect irreplaceable ecosystems. Our joint efforts are creating momentum for stronger, locally grounded conservation. We congratulate FAPBM on 20 years of leadership and look forward to deepening this collaboration to secure a resilient future for Madagascar’s biodiversity and the communities who depend on it.