Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, attended the ‘Recognition Ceremony of Forest Rangers’ on October 11, 2025, during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi. “It is a privilege to celebrate the dedication of our courageous forest rangers who devote their lives to conserving our forests and wildlife,” he remarked. He emphasized their critical role in preserving India’s rich biodiversity for future generations while launching the report Guardians of the Wild.
The Minister expressed deep admiration for the dedication of forest rangers and congratulated the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) for recognizing their invaluable contributions. Reflecting on personal experiences, Shri Singh recalled learning from forest staff during his childhood, appreciating their wealth of indigenous knowledge and traditional wisdom. He urged governments to document and preserve this expertise, noting that in India, forest guardians are respectfully called Vanrakshaks and Vanrakshikas.
Shri Singh reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to supporting frontline forest staff by providing advanced technological tools, including drones for forest surveillance, satellite tracking, and radio collaring of wildlife. These initiatives enhance their ability to protect forests, combat illegal activities, and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. He also highlighted ongoing capacity-building programs to ensure rangers are well-equipped for their challenging roles.