The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation on Tuesday issued a statement urging the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department and other related agencies to upgrade the welfare and benefits for all forest rangers in order to provide job security, improve morale, and ensure proper protection for these dedicated officers and their families in case of mishaps.

While acknowledging that Thai society now had more understanding and awareness of forest and wildlife protection work, which contributed to increasing support from the public to improve officers’ working standards, the foundation’s statement said that aid from the public sector was still not enough to properly protect the rangers.

Therefore, the foundation suggested that official agencies guarantee career-development opportunities for all forest rangers, allowing them to get promotions and salary increases.

Moreover, special benefits and welfare schemes such as life-insurance registration should also be provided to the officers, who work on risky duties and/or in dangerous environments, it added.

The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation also suggested that rangers form a union for their profession, in order to be the key network for upgrading the working standard for a career as a forest ranger to the international level.

“World Ranger Day” is celebrated worldwide on July 31 to commemorate forest rangers killed or injured in the line of duty, and to raise public awareness of the importance of their work.