By Alec Go
A group of forest rangers of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation were among the winners of International Ranger Awards “for going beyond the call of duty to protect the earth’s wild places and wildlife.”
The award was presented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Commission on Protected Areas at the IUCN African Protected Areas Congress in Kigali, Rwanda.
Kuhkan Maas, John Paul Magana, and Monica Inonog of the Bayog Ranger Station tasked to protect the Upper Marikina Watershed were honored for their “courage and determination” to perform their duties.
Maas was among the rangers who sustained head and neck wounds in a shooting incident at the Bayog station on July 24 last year. This is amid the continuing “harsh working conditions, personal discrimination, intimidation and violence” faced by forest rangers accross the country.
“We are inspired that the international community recognizes our efforts and sacrifice. We hope this recognition will raise awareness of the plight of environment defenders in Masungi and the Philippines,” Inonog said, as shared by Masungi Georeserve in its post.
She also called on newly installed Environment Secretary Toni Loyzaga to protect them from the “continuing danger and finally remove the destructive quarry interests and illegal structures in the watershed.”
“We also ask the police and the local government to support us in defeating organized crimes inside the Masungi landscape and the surrounding watershed, the health of which is critical to the disaster resilience of many communities and cities,” she added.
The international award was given to 12 rangers and ranger teams from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Australasia region.
Citing Department of Environment and Natural Resources, former Secretary Roy Cimatu said in August 2021 that nine forest rangers and field personnel have been killed while performing their duties in the country. –ag
