Guardaparques in Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina mark International Day

On July 31, the International Day of Park Rangers was observed across Latin America. In La Paya National Park, Colombia, ranger Hernán Chilito emphasized rebuilding trust with local communities after state debt issues and past military violence. In Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park, ranger Tanya Villalba highlighted the need to overcome gender bias and strengthen leadership in the continent’s largest protected area. In Argentina’s El Palmar, ranger Facundo Alcalde worked to increase park revenue to achieve financial sustainability.

The three rangers noted common challenges: budget cuts for protected areas, threats from illegal mining and narcotrafficking, and gender inequities within the ranger workforce. They stressed that healthy ecosystems—forests, mangroves, wetlands, and high‑altitude grasslands—provide essential services such as clean air, fresh water and pollination, underscoring the broader importance of their work for biodiversity conservation.