Prince William Announces Initiative for Rangers Who ‘Protect Our Planet’

• Prince William announced during a speech on Nov. 5 in Cape Town, South Africa his plans to launch an initiative to protect and support rangers
• The Prince of Wales mentioned the dangerous job rangers do to protect wildlife, and specifically mentioned the 2022 murder of Anton Mzimba, which profoundly affected him
• Prince William is in South Africa this week in support of his Earthshot Prize’s fourth awards ceremony there, scheduled for Nov. 6

Prince William is speaking up — and helping get practical support — for rangers on the frontline of the battle against the illegal wildlife trade. 

During his second day in Cape Town, South Africa on Nov. 5 — where the Prince of Wales, 42, will host his fourth annual Earthshot Prize Awards on Nov. 6 — Prince William announced a new lifeline for rangers at the 2024 United for Wildlife Global Showcase, created so they have more protection for their dangerous work.

Prince William’s ambitious five-year plan will provide 10,000 rangers with access to appropriate, affordable insurance coverage, together with opportunities for training and leadership development.

“South Africa is a country of immense natural beauty and remarkable biodiversity,” Prince William began his remarks at the United for Wildlife Global Showcase on Nov. 5. “It is also a country that plays a crucial role in the global conservation effort. Unfortunately, the troubling reality that we face is that our planet’s natural systems are rapidly approaching an irreversible tipping point, driven by unprecedented nature loss and climate change.”

“Since 1970, we have witnessed a staggering 73% decline in the average size of global wildlife populations. That figure alone highlights the fragility of our ecosystems and the urgency of our mission. The illegal wildlife trade is a key driver of this decline, putting countless species at risk,” he continued. “It is a far-reaching problem that also undermines security and governance worldwide. Beyond its impact on nature, it fuels organized crime and is often entangled with other illicit activities like drug smuggling, arms trafficking and human exploitation. The growth of these criminal networks fosters environments where violence against law enforcement and conservationists becomes commonplace … and crucially, this crisis is not confined to any one region. The ripple effects are profound for us all.”

Prince William, along with The Royal Foundation, founded the United for Wildlife organization in 2013, a global alliance of private sector, law enforcement, governments and not-for-profit organizations working together to raise awareness and target, disrupt and prevent cases of illegal wildlife trade. 

In the decade since its creation, significant strides have been taken to end the illegal wildlife trade, William said.

“Today, I can say with confidence that the fight against the illegal wildlife trade is no longer a fringe issue like it felt in 2014,” he said. “It has become a priority for global leaders and a focus for many of the world’s largest businesses. While these international achievements are crucial, we must also recognize the people on the front lines … the rangers, the indigenous peoples and the local communities who are the guardians of our planet’s most precious resources.”

Of the rangers specifically, he added, “Rangers are fundamental if we are to meet our global conservation targets for 2030 and prevent the dangerous tipping points that threaten our planet. These people do far more than protect wildlife. They are educators. They are community supporters. And they help regulate the sustainable use of natural resources. Yet, far too often, they lack sufficient support, with rangers in particular facing inadequate pay and protection.”

“This has come into even sharper focus over the past two years, following the murder of Anton Mzimba here in South Africa,” William continued. “Anton was assassinated in his home for doing his job … protecting the incredible biodiversity of this country. Currently, fewer than 300,000 rangers are working globally, but estimates suggest we need five times that number to properly meet our conservation commitments. We cannot protect our planet without a well-supported workforce.”

Mzimba was a South African ranger who was murdered by wildlife traffickers in 2022 after dedicating his working life to protecting Africa’s wild animals. Prince William — who connected with Mzimba months before his death — said in 2023 that his murder was “a stark reminder of the daily dangers that all rangers face around the world protecting the natural world from the international criminal organizations that seek to profit illegally from wildlife.”

A solution-focused Prince William, who went for a walk earlier on Nov. 5 to spend time with rangers guarding a richly important habitat near Cape Town, has brought together his United for Wildlife organization, a favorite charity, Tusk Trust, and the Game Ranger Association of Africa to provide the new resource. 

“This initiative aims to ensure that rangers receive much needed life insurance cover, giving them and their families reassurance that they are protected for the dangerous job they do,” Prince William said of the new initiative. “It will be led by those who protect nature, for those who protect nature, with a focus on setting best practices. A strong and supported frontline is essential to ending the illegal wildlife trade. But our efforts cannot stop there. We must adopt a holistic approach, understanding the social, economic and environmental factors that drive this trade. We must work closely with local communities, ensuring that they are at the heart of conservation solutions.”

As he began to conclude his remarks, Prince William said, “What happens over the next five years, especially in relation to stopping the illegal wildlife trade, is crucial for the future of life on Earth. The urgency is palpable, as entire parts of the species chain are being removed. As we look to 2030 and beyond, we have the power, and opportunity, to change the trajectory. While the challenge may still be complex, the path is now clearer.” 

“We must strengthen our networks, support those on the frontlines and adopt innovative, community-focused conservation strategies. Let’s build on our progress, committing to effective policies, deeper partnerships and more funding. In doing so, we can create a future where people and nature flourish. A future where the illegal wildlife trade is a thing of the past, and our natural world is protected,” he said.

The United for Wildlife Showcase brought global leaders from conservation, law enforcement and government together with United for Wildlife’s Taskforces across finance, law, transport and e-commerce to further the shared mission of combatting wildlife crime.

The Showcase opened a two-day summit for United for Wildlife, which will provide an opportunity for attendees to exchange ideas, learnings and best practice in this area. It will focus on three distinct elements: the global actions taken to end the illegal wildlife trade, the critical frontline role that rangers play to support this effort and the essential partnerships between different organizations and sectors that will make the end of illegal wildlife crime possible.

According to Prince William’s office at Kensington Palace, South Africa has been a world leader in disrupting illegal wildlife trade, with many of its initiatives becoming the foundations of best practice around the world. The Showcase will also highlight the impact these initiatives have delivered, alongside other success in the country and the wider African region.

“The South African government’s new visionary biodiversity policy, shaped through extensive public consultation, embraces a duty of care towards all aspects of biodiversity, ensuring that both people and nature can thrive,” William said. “It rightly acknowledges that conservation cannot succeed without the support of the people living alongside wildlife.”

United for Wildlife also announced support for leadership training for 60 nature protectors that will take place over the next two years in Kruger National Park. The organization hopes to expand these initiatives in the coming years to serve people working on the frontline of conservation globally.

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Further building the relationship between the U.K. and South Africa, Prince William — who met with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier in the day on Nov. 5 —  warmly thanked President Ramaphosa for his support of the Earthshot Prize Awards ahead of it being hosted in Cape Town tomorrow evening, and he also remarked about the warm welcome he has received in South Africa since his arrival on Nov. 4.