Ranger days

A day in the job of a Sirebe Forest Ranger

By Nakau

July 31^st, 2023

Protecting and restoring ecosystems begins with people. It's why rangers are such an important part of any conservation carbon project we collaborate on.

The Babatana Forest Rangers are doing an amazing job of monitoring and managing their protected rainforests. Sirebe is one tribe we've been working with for a while. They shared with us what a day in the role of a ranger is like for them and why they do this important work.

6am: It’s an early start for rangers on the mornings they head into the forest. Breakfast is a simple tea with biscuit. They carefully pack all they need for a few days walking in the forest — tent, sleeping bag, monitoring equipment, portable stove and food.

7am: NRDF officer Cornelius Qaqara meets with the rangers at the NRDF head office and prepares monitoring equipment. Together they head to the Sirebe boat and make their way from the beach, out to sea then up the Kolombangara River mouth to the Sirebe Ranger Station — the start of the official Sirebe Protected Area.

The Sirebe ranger team currently has seven Rangers. The team is made up of Hansel Pitavoqa, Clinton Gatavae, Ismael Norokesa, Mosses Zoleveke, Head Ranger Kavi Pitatamae, Elijah Qalolilio Jnr and Goldie Vengo.

9am: Rangers start heading out along the boundary of the Sirebe protected rainforest. Today they are monitoring the forest to make sure there are no encroachments from commercial loggers or small-scale timber mill workers. They check for any kind of natural damage to the forests too — including landslides — so they can verify the carbon remains in the forest.

They also look for animals and plants they can include in the biodiversity report. Rangers used the Avenza app on a mobile phone to navigate the route and make sure they follow the correct path allocated to this trip.

Walking in the forest a very tough and complicated for the rangers because they are crossing almost five streams a day and walking up and down on many, creeks, ridges and mountains.

"Sometimes we are scared of snakes and other dangerous animals," says Head Ranger Akavi Pitatamae. "Also, there is so much rain which makes the ground wet. We slide and fall down."

"But it's a really interesting job. You come here, breathe the fresh air and relax your mind. Hear the birds and other animals. I love being in the bush because my interest is the forest. That is why I do this job, to lead my people and protect this area."

12pm: Lunch stop. Rangers lunch on biscuit and Solomon Blue Taiyo (tin fish). They drink natural freshwater from the streams and rivers, and sometimes vines too.

1pm: They continue their monitoring walk — tracking, checking, counting and recording until they reach their camp for the night.

6pm: Rangers set up their camp near a streams or rivers so they can collect water to cook and swim when night comes.

For dinner they cook rice, fern, taiyo and noodles. Sometimes they might collect some freshwater snail and shrimps from the streams too. They light a fire to cook and warm themselves.

Around the fire there is always a bit of fun, singing and chatter about the activities before going early to bed.

In Sirebe Protected Area — and in neighbouring Babatana projects — rangers contribute to conservation in three main ways:

Monitor the forest, making sure there is no disturbance from logging or milling.
Observe and record the rare biodiversity in the area.
Increase the capacity of Ministry of Environment with training in mapping, monitoring and biodiversity surveys.

If there were no rangers, the forest would still be threatened by trespassing from commercial logging companies and the taking of trees for sawmills — the forests would be protected on paper but not in reality.

Rangers monitoring and managing the forests are what makes the Protected Areas strong.

Employing local Rangers also means cultural and environmental knowledge is valued and protected through employment. It creates meaning for the community and a tangible benefit to the forest.