About
About the Congress
The 2nd Asian Ranger Congress brings together rangers and conservation leaders from across Asia to share knowledge, celebrate achievements, and chart a collective path forward.
About the Congress
Rangers play an indispensable role in maintaining the integrity of protected and conserved areas (PCAs), and in supporting the rights of those with whom they interact while carrying out their duties of planetary protection. The world's rangers go by many names and perform a vast array of roles — from law enforcement and biodiversity monitoring to conservation education and community engagement. They are an essential part of internationally agreed plans to protect 30% of land and oceans, and without them, this goal is unattainable.
Building on the success of the 1st Asian Ranger Congress held in Guwahati, India in December 2023, the 2nd Asian Ranger Congress will once again bring together rangers and organisations supporting rangers from across Asia to collaborate on the issues that matter most. The Congress will offer a platform to share knowledge, build capacity, create partnerships, and celebrate the vital role rangers play in Asia's extraordinary biodiversity.
This time, the Congress will be hosted in Thimphu, Bhutan — a country globally recognised for its extraordinary commitment to conservation and the wellbeing of its rangers. The Society of Bhutanese Foresters, backed by the Royal Government of Bhutan, is proud to welcome Asia's ranger community to Bhutan.
Where
Royal Institute of Management (RIM), Simtokha, Thimphu, Bhutan
When
2–4 December 2026
Majestic Thimphu Hosts You
Set in the Himalayan valley of Thimphu, Bhutan offers delegates more than a congress venue. The country's conservation legacy, high forest cover, and constitutional commitment to protecting nature make it a fitting host for Asia's ranger community.
Asia
Asia's ranger community converges
Messages of Welcome
Chris Galliers
President, International Ranger Federation
The International Ranger Federation is proud to support the 2nd Asian Ranger Congress and to once again stand alongside the rangers of Asia at this important gathering. This congress will provide a platform for rangers to share experiences, learn from one another, and inspire col...
Bunty Tao
President, Ranger Federation of Asia
As a ranger, as an Indigenous person, and as President of the Ranger Federation of Asia, I am deeply honoured to welcome you to the 2nd Asian Ranger Congress in Thimphu, Bhutan. Rangers across Asia come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and landscapes — but we are unite...
Kinley Tshering
Chairperson, Society of Bhutanese Foresters
On behalf of the Society of Bhutanese Foresters, it is my profound honour to welcome rangers and conservation leaders from across Asia to the 2nd Asian Ranger Congress here in Thimphu, Bhutan. Bhutan has long placed conservation at the heart of its national identity. It is this s...
Congress Schedule
The full congress schedule will be published here once confirmed. Registered participants will be notified when the schedule is available for download.
1st Asian Ranger Congress Declaration
The 1st Asian Ranger Congress was held in Guwahati, India in December 2023 and produced the Guwahati Declaration — a landmark statement of intent committing organisations and governments to strengthen the ranger profession across Asia. The declaration remains a foundational document for the ranger movement in the region.
Download Guwahati Declaration