FEMALE RANGERS

Empowering Women on the Front Line of Conservation

Across Botswana and Zimbabwe, women are protecting wildlife and the landscapes they roam, helping transform the future of conservation.

As our work with Project Ranger has made abundantly clear, conservation areas need boots (and eyes and ears) on the ground. At the same time, a central mission of the Great Plains Foundation is to create conservation platforms that support women’s empowerment. These were the inspirations behind Great Plains’ Female Ranger Units. These all-female units act as biodiversity monitors, gathering essential data about the areas they patrol and will act as early detection forces against illegal wildlife crime.

Hiring women as Biodiversity Monitors and Wildlife Rangers builds their capacity as individuals and empowers the communities they represent. Great Plains’ Female Ranger units also offer opportunities to shift gender stereotypes, empower women, and establish strong female role models for young girls. The long-term conservation impact of this project is equally powerful; Female Rangers foster the community buy-in necessary to preserve Africa’s most precious ecosystems.

The first Female Rangers began their training in 2022 in Botswana, followed by Zimbabwe. There are now active units operating in the Great Plains’ areas of operation in both the Okavango Delta in Botswana and the Sapi Reserve within the mid-Zambezi valley in Zimbabwe. Our team of Wildlife Rangers – comprising both women and men in these regions – conduct patrols, monitor wildlife, collect field data, support anti-poaching efforts, and act as vital links between conservation projects and local communities.

As of 2026, we have trained 27 women and grown into a team of 21 Female Rangers across Botswana and Zimbabwe. Together, they are helping monitor wildlife, support ecosystem protection, contribute to conservation research, and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Female Ranger Programme Since 2022

• 21 Female Great Plains Biodiversity Rangers employed in Botswana & Zimbabwe
• 62,400+ patrol kilometres completed
• 18,100+ field monitoring & patrol hours
• 1,000+ youth reached through conservation education
• 2 Team Leaders promoted internally

Growing the Female Ranger Programme

The continued growth of the Female Ranger Programme is made possible through the generosity of individuals, partners, and supporters who believe in both conservation and opportunity.

By becoming an Earth Partner, Great Plains Foundation’s monthly giving community, you can help expand the programme’s reach, support the training and development of future Female Rangers, and strengthen conservation efforts across Botswana and Zimbabwe. Consistent monthly support provides the long-term investment needed to build skills, create employment opportunities, and ensure women continue to play an active role in protecting wildlife and wild landscapes.

If you would like to learn more or make a larger tax-deductible donation, please get in touch at info@greatplainsfoundation.org

$15,000 covers the cost of hiring, training, and equipping a new Female Ranger, as well as her operational costs for one year.