Puerto Iguazú | The World Congress of Park Rangers 2027 will be the scene of debate in the face of the global crisis of the profession

With the imposing backdrop of the Iguazú Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the event will make visible one of the most severe contradictions of the global green agenda: the enormous gap between the multi-million dollar international environmental commitments and the stark job insecurity of those who risk their lives to guard them. Under the motto "Recognising Park Rangers: promoting the profession to safeguard our future", the congress - organized by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) at a global level, and coordinated locally by the SIGUNARA union with the support of the National Parks Administration (APN) - will seek to change the course of a profession in crisis. Currently, it is estimated that only 286,000 park rangers support the first line of ecological defense on the entire planet. This small civil army is responsible for protecting more than 15% of the earths surface and 8% of the oceans against deforestation, poaching, drug trafficking and the advance of illegal real estate development. The pressure on this body of workers has multiplied after global agreements to achieve the 30x30 Framework, the international goal that requires protecting 30% of the planet by 2030. However, the scientific community and unions in the sector warn that These goals are technically and operationally impossible to meet under current conditions. Park rangers are the backbone of our global conservation efforts. “The 11th World Congress represents a historic opportunity to advance our profession, share knowledge across borders and strengthen the global ranger community,” said Chris Galliers, President of the International Ranger Federation. The contrast at the summit will be explicit. While the delegates debate in the Triple Border - a geographical node of high biodiversity where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay converge -, sector reports denounce that the majority of the planets agents operate with insufficient salaries, subsistence budgets, no connectivity in critical areas and little social recognition by the States. The Iguazú Declaration: a document to demand labor dignity The congress program will include workshops, expert panels and conferences dedicated to the management of protected areas and conflict management between local communities and wildlife. However, the most anticipated political result of the meeting will be the drafting and signing of the Iguazú Declaration. This historical document aims to become a global manifesto that puts pressure on governments and international financing organizations. The premise is clear: conservation infrastructure cannot be financed if human capital is kept invisible. Investing in providing modern equipment, continuous training, decent salaries and risk coverage for park rangers is, ultimately, the only real investment to ensure the future of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. The global map of nature custodians The congress that the province of Misiones will host will bring together indicators that reflect both the magnitude of the environmental challenge and the helplessness of the sector:• 286,000 park rangers: The estimated total number worldwide to guard the parks, reserves and protected areas of the five continents.• 600 delegates: The professionals and leaders of conservation organizations who will gather for five days in Puerto Iguazú.• More than 50 countries: The nations that will send official representation to unify the protection criteria and labor demands.• 15% terrestrial and 8% oceanic: The current percentage of the planets surface under the direct tutelage of the global body of park rangers.• 30% for 2030: The goal of the international commitment (30×30 Framework) that seeks to double the areas under environmental protection to stop climate collapse. • 2,000 species of plants: The botanical wealth of the Missionary Atlantic Forest that will serve as a natural framework for the summit deliberations. Registration is now open through the website www.worldrangercongress.org