WOMEN RANGERS
Meet strong Indigenous women who care for Country, community and culture across Australia.
You need us. You need our knowledge. We've been here for so long, and that knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation
Jirrbal Traditional Owner
For thousands of years, Indigenous women have been caring for nature and culturally-significant species on Country.
Little wonder then that Indigenous women rangers feel such a strong sense of pride carrying on the work of their ancestors before them. Get to know just a few of the many strong Indigenous women making an impact with their unique skills and knowledge on Country.
Meet strong women on Country
Strong women caring on Country play a vital role maintaining not only their cultural heritage but environmental management as well, tackling threats like feral animals, invasive weeds and destructive wildfires.
Why do we need strong women on Country?
The roles of women caring for nature on Country are usually different from men. Their unique knowledge is essential in the journey to Regenerate Nature by 2030.
Strong Indigenous women are working tirelessly to look after key environmental and cultural assets, sites and wildlife in ways only they can. The role of women in the culturally-specific, intergenerational transfer of this knowledge is invaluable and irreplaceable in Indigenous knowledge systems.
Their work on Country across Australia includes protecting traditional First Nations values and the future needs of culture, community and nature. Indigenous women rangers, Traditional Owners and community leaders are essential to protecting landscapes across Australia.This work includes biosecurity monitoring, invasive-species control, fire management and carbon burning, biodiversity surveys, research and conservation, habitat restoration, visitor management, cultural activities and ceremonies, education and much more.
Several studies have shown that climate change affects women the most. Yet women face more barriers in taking charge of conservation and natural resource management on Country. However, when women lead in conservation, indicators of success often go up.
In 2017, WWF-Australia supported the establishment of the Women Rangers Environmental Network (WREN), providing opportunities for women rangers across Australia to connect, share knowledge and strengthen their ability to take action.
Women Rangers Environmental Network (WREN)
The Women Rangers Environmental Network (WREN) program has focused on establishing, linking, and expanding hubs extending across Australia to connect nearly 500 women committed to connecting, collaborating and protecting Country.
