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Prince William Champions Ranger Support and Climate Solutions in South Africa

Published November 06, 2024
3 months ago

In a landmark moment for conservation during the United for Wildlife’s third global summit in Cape Town, South Africa, His Royal Highness Prince William has unveiled a critical aid package aimed at empowering rangers across Africa. This game-changing initiative is set to bolster the continent’s frontline environmental defense.





Addressing over 400 stakeholders from diverse fields, the Prince of Wales emphasized the importance of international partnerships in combating the illicit wildlife trade. He underscored the invaluable contributions of rangers in safeguarding ecosystems and announced the new raft of support orchestrated by the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife programme, Tusk Trust, and the Game Rangers Association of Africa.


The multifaceted support package will provide essential in-service insurance, medical evacuation coverage, and leadership training opportunities to a vast network of rangers—10,000 in the next half-decade. A further deepening of this commitment will see 170 South African nature protectors benefit from dedicated leadership development and capacity-building efforts, with 60 protectors afforded the chance to undergo leadership training within the renowned Kruger National Park over a two-year period.


The Prince expounded on the necessity of these measures, linking them to the global environmental agenda that targets the protection of at least 30% of the world’s land and seas by the year 2030. He hailed the rangers, who form a critical element of the 286,000-strong global cadre of conservationists, as central to realizing these objectives and averting ecological crises.


In conjunction with this critical environmental undertaking, Prince William merged his love of sports and engagement with youth during his visit to the Ocean View township in Cape Town. There, alongside 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Jason Leonard, he engaged with local students participating in a rugby training initiative aimed at fostering community development through sport.


Furthermore, the Earthshot Prize—a keystone project envisioned by Prince William to tackle the pressing issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—brought the Prince to South Africa. During this trip, he engaged with young environmentalists from Africa and Southeast Asia, reinforcing the cross-continental dialogue on climate action ahead of the much-anticipated Earthshot Prize awards, where winners gain significant support to escalate their environmental solutions.


This year's Earthshot Prize awards continue their global legacy with the ceremony taking place in Cape Town, marking the first official visit of the royal to South Africa since 2010. In his solo journey, the Prince pays homage to Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is currently recovering from illness.


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