Earlier this month, Conservation Director Jovan Andevski and Project Coordinator Uroš Pantović from the Vulture Conservation Foundation joined more than 260 participants from across Europe at the European Ranger Congress. The event was held from October 6–10 2025 in Romania and was organized by the European Ranger Federation, bringing together enforcement agents, national park rangers, conservation NGOs, and other experts with the aim to rebuild the bridge between communities and nature, conserving cultural and natural heritage.
BalkanDETOX partners showed strong commitment
A significant highlight of the participation was the presence of 15 representatives from the BalkanDetox LIFE project, including partners and key stakeholders from across the Balkans. Their involvement supported the project’s goal of fostering cross-border networking and knowledge exchange between enforcement agencies, conservation professionals, and rangers. This strong regional representation showcased the growing collaboration under the BalkanDetox umbrella and its alignment with broader European efforts to combat wildlife poisoning.
The participation of the representatives of the BalkanDetox LIFE project was particularly relevant in the interactive workshop: Profiling Poisoners – Understanding Motives and Patterns, which was dedicated to explaining the drivers behind the illegal use of poison baits and most common methods used. The workshop provided an opportunity for the participants to exchange personal experiences with investigation and management of poisoning incidents in their respective countries, as well as the different roles and responsibilities that rangers have in the investigation process.
Advancing EarthRanger collaboration
As part of the LIFE BalkanDetox deliverables, the partnership with EarthRanger, a leading platform for data-driven wildlife protection, took a step forward. The European Ranger Federation is already working closely with the SMART initiative, which is compatible with EarthRanger, opening opportunities for joint technological progress.
At the congress VCF co-organized a technical workshop with EarthRanger’s representatives, Hristo Peshev from FWFF, and several BalkanDetox partners.
Key outcomes included:
- Reducing false alerts in monitoring systems, a challenge highlighted by Hristo.
- Combining multiple criteria to generate more reliable alerts.
- Planning an in-person training session in spring 2026, likely in Blagoevgrad within the Griffon LIFE framework, to further build partner capacity.
Some partners even continued their learning during informal evening sessions — a clear sign of their commitment and engagement.
Wildlife Crime Academy sparked interest
The congress also offered an excellent opportunity to present and promote the new Wildlife Crime Academy (WCA) project, which aims to strengthen capacities to investigate and prevent wildlife crime. Following Jovan Andevski’s presentation, interest in the initiative exceeded expectations — several participants expressed their desire to get involved, and journalists requested interviews. The strong response underscored both the relevance and the urgent need for this initiative.
In addition to presenting the project, the congress was also a great opportunity to meet with the Romanian Minister of Environment – one of the key partners and stakeholders of Wildlife Crime Academy. As a result, several promising candidates from the Romanian Police to participate in the Wildlife Crime Academy training were identified.
A bridge between communities and nature
European Ranger Congress 2025 underscored the vital role rangers play as the bridge between local communities and nature conservation. Through initiatives like BalkanDetox LIFE, Wildlife Crime Academy, and partnerships with tools such as EarthRanger, VCF continues to strengthen that bridge — empowering those on the frontlines to protect Europe’s biodiversity and tackle wildlife crime more effectively.
For more information about the event, visit the European Ranger Congress website.
