The five-day meeting of professional and volunteer nature rangers was organized by the European Ranger Federation (ERF) with Romanian partners from October 6–10, 2025, at a resort near Brașov. The congress offered discussions on nature conservation at both national and European levels, practical workshops for rangers, and field excursions. Their participation in the congress is also symbolic — Moldova is aligning its environmental governance with European standards as part of its EU accession efforts.
“We are also looking for inspiration from our European colleagues here at the congress,” says Ion Gavgas, one of the Moldovan volunteer rangers. “Equally inspiring are the personal stories of courageous nature defenders and the practical tips on how to organize volunteer rangers in other countries. During a hands-on workshop, our British colleagues from Dartmoor National Park shared their experience — from ensuring safety to managing insurance.”
The Moldovan rangers’ participation in the congress reflects the growing strength of their newly established Association of Volunteer Rangers. Since its establishment in 2023, the Association has grown to 19 official members and over 40 affiliated volunteer environmental inspectors guarding natural sites across Moldova, including the Lower Dniester National Park, the Țipova Landscape Reserve, and the Orhei National Park.
Since 2020, Czech NGO Arnika has supported the development of Moldova’s volunteer ranger movement through the provision of equipment — such as drones, boats, and binoculars — and expertise.
“Moldovan nature rangers often supplement non-existent or insufficient state structures,” says Pavel Pinkava, coordinator of Arnika’s Moldova project. “They help protect areas from poaching, illegal logging, dumping, and other threats, and play a crucial role in identifying new sites suitable for protection. Their participation at this European congress shows they’ve reached a level where they can share experiences with rangers across the continent.”
Arnika, together with Biotica, supports local volunteer conservationists through expert training and workshops with specialists from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany. The organizations also supported Moldovan volunteer rangers in establishing the official Association of Volunteer Rangers and helped with integrating it into international structures.