Both the Moldovan Association of Volunteer Rangers and Arnika have become members of two international federations: the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and the European Ranger Federation (ERF). In May, a representative of the ERF held two workshops for Moldovan rangers. We are trying to promote their legal status and protection.
Our first event for experienced volunteer rangers took place in Stefan Voda (Lower Dniester National Park) on 25 May. Michael Grossmann, the ERF representative from Germany, ran the workshop with the aim of aligning the activities of Moldovan rangers with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the European approach to nature conservation. Participants also debated current challenges in Moldova, particularly the low level of legal protection for rangers. One of the rangers approached the Moldovan Minister of the Environment, who was participating in the nearby Dniester Festival, and the minister promised to speak to the head of the Inspectorate (a state body providing certifications to volunteer rangers) and call him back.
The following day, we organised a second workshop for junior (and future) volunteer rangers at the Old Orhei Natural-Cultural Reserve. The aim was to promote ecological volunteering, strengthen the rangers' capacities in environmental protection, and familiarise them with European models for organising ranger activities.
M. Grossmann (former Chief Ranger of the Bavarian Forest National Park and Coordinator of the 6th European Ranger Congress) presented several examples of tourist infractions in German national parks and how the rangers dealt with them. Ion Gavgas (Biotica) gave a presentation on the general activities of Moldovan volunteer rangers, the selection and appointment procedures for becoming a ranger, and the rangers' obligations and rights. Nicolae Nastazi (Head of the Moldovan Association of Volunteer Rangers) then spoke about the development of environmental volunteering in Moldova, describing the activities of the association and outlining legislative enforcement in the field of environmental protection.
As the legal status and protection of volunteer rangers remains a major challenge in Moldova, we organised a 'Legal Writing and Argumentation Seminar' for students from the Free International University of Moldova on 12 May, analysing the role and duties of Environmental Protection Inspectors/Rangers. The students examined the technical aspects of drafting a letter to central public authorities and wrote a letter to the Environmental Inspectorate requesting improved protection for rangers.
A few weeks later, on 6 June, law students from the same university attended a special session on environmental law. They studied the importance of balance in natural ecosystems and the appropriate involvement of society, including the rights and obligations of individuals and legal entities. The students learned about state control implementation, the Inspectorate for Environmental Protection's duties, and general information about voluntary environmental inspectors/rangers.
All these activities were carried out as part of a joint project by Arnika and Biotica ”Natura 2000 in Moldova: Promoting the European Approach to Nature Conservation in Moldova”, which is supported by the Transition Promotion Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. You can find a lot more information on our activities in Moldova in other articles here.
