The IRF World Ranger Congress brings together Rangers from all over the world, giving them the opportunity to learn new skills, share knowledge and create partnerships. It occurs every three years in a different location, allowing host countries from each IRF region to raise the profile of Rangers locally and internationally. It allows them to showcase their successes, to identify how they’re addressing their regional challenges and share their knowledge and skills with colleagues from around the world.
Attending a congress like this is a once in a life time opportunity for many Rangers; meeting colleagues from around the world gives Rangers hope and boosts their morale. Often their jobs are located in remote and isolated areas where they don’t have a lot of contact with the world family of Rangers. They don’t often have the opportunity to exchange stories and learn from others that may be located half way across the world.
The IRF World Ranger Congress is also a forum for the creation of recommendations on issues that affect Rangers and the work that they do on the front-line. Having these challenges come directly from Rangers makes the message more powerful; the recommendations are presented at conservation forums globally.
11th IRF World Ranger Congress – Argentina 2027
The next IRF World Ranger Congress will be held at Puerto Iguazu in Argentina. It will be hosted by the Sindicato de Guardaparques Nacionales de la República Argentina (SIGUNARA).
The announcement was made on the final day of the 10th IRF World Ranger Congress at Hyeres.
Further information is available here
Chris Galliers, IRF President, congratulating Antuel Sánchez, National Park Ranger and General Secretary of the National Park Rangers Union of the Argentine Republic (SIGUNARA) on hosting the 2027 11th IRF World Ranger Congress. (Andy Davies)
2030 IRF World Ranger Congress Host EOI Process
On the 26th Feb 2026, the IRF commenced the EOI process for the Host of the 2030 IRF World Ranger Congress.
The IRF has developed a new process for seeking and announcing Hosts for future IRF World Ranger Congresses (IRF WRC). This process will provide longer planning periods for interested parties to develop their Expression of Interest to host the future IRF WRC, and ensure the successful candidate has a longer period to plan and implement the IRF WRC. It will also provide the IRF and Ranger community with a schedule for the future.
The IRF recently announced that the next IRF WRC will be held in Puerto, Iguazu, Argentina, April 19-23 2027. The IRF WRC is usually held every three years, therefore the IRF has developed this process to seek a Host country/ association for the 2030 IRF WRC.
The IRF will announce the successful Host for the 2030 Congress at the 2027 IRF WRC in Argentina.
To ensure that Host candidates have sufficient opportunity to develop a proposal to host the 2030 IRF WRC, the Expression of Interest (EOI) process will commence in February 2026. The IRF has developed a package of information, including Guidelines, Terms of Reference and an Application template, to assist potential candidates in developing their proposals.
The EOI process will close on 30 September 2026, providing candidates 7 months to develop their proposals. The IRF will then evaluate the proposals and engage candidates between September 2026 and December 2026, with an announcement of the successful candidate at the conclusion of the IRF WRC in April 2027.
The IRF and the successful candidate will then have sufficient time to further develop the program for the 2030 IRF World Ranger Congress.
Further information and the EOI Package and process please contact the IRF Secretary at secretary@internationalrangers.org
Past IRF World Ranger Congresses
10th IRF World Ranger Congress – France 2024
The latest IRF World Ranger Congress was held in Hyeres France between the 7th and 11th October 2024. The Congress was hosted by Gardes Nature de France. The 10th IRF WRC focused on the contributions and evolution of the ranger profession to achieve target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
2024 10th IRF World Ranger Congress Flag Ceremony (Ranjan Ramchandani/ WWF)
(Ranjan Ramchandani/ WWF)
2024 – Hyères, France
2019 – Chitwan, Nepal
2016 – Estes Park, Colorado, USA
2012 – Arusha, Tanzania
2009 – Santa Cruz, Bolivia
2006 – Stirling, Scotland
2003 – Wilsons Promontory National Park, Australia
2000 – Kruger National Park, South Africa
1997 – San Jose, Costa Rica
1995 – Zakopane, Poland