{"id":29354,"date":"2024-12-30T12:27:35","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T11:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/?p=29354"},"modified":"2025-03-25T11:49:25","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T10:49:25","slug":"ranger-on-lastovo-a-dynamic-job-in-the-heart-of-a-protected-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/news\/ranger-on-lastovo-a-dynamic-job-in-the-heart-of-a-protected-area\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranger on Lastovo: a dynamic job in the heart of a protected area"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the heart of the Adriatic, within the Lastovo Archipelago Nature Park<\/strong>, Ivana Lagetar<\/strong> has worked as a ranger <\/strong>for four years, witnessing daily the beauty and challenges of this unique protected area. The Lastovo Archipelago, comprising 46 islands and reefs, spans 196 square kilometres. Its extraordinary marine and underwater biodiversity significantly enhances its value. Many of the archipelago\u2019s plant and animal species are endangered and listed on the Red List of Threatened Species. The area is also crucial for bird migration, making its preservation a demanding task that requires versatility, perseverance, and a deep love of nature. In conversation with Ivana, we learned what inspired her to take on this role, as well as the challenges she faces in her work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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‘It was challenging to prove myself as a woman in this job’<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ivana developed her love for the sea and nature in childhood, fishing with her father. This connection to nature, combined with experience gained during seasonal work at the Park, motivated her to apply for the position of ranger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 I worked seasonally at the Park for two years before my colleagues encouraged me to apply. Although proving myself as a woman in this role was challenging, I was drawn to the dynamic and varied tasks involved, \u2013 Ivana explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a ranger in the Lastovo Archipelago Nature Park <\/strong>is far from simple \u2013 it demands a diverse skill set. Rangers must act as skippers, firefighters, researchers, and divers, according to Ivana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Our work is incredibly varied. One day we might be monitoring marine life underwater, the next we\u2019re patrolling remote parts of the archipelago, and another day we\u2019re responding to fire emergencies. It\u2019s never boring \u2013 each day brings a new experience, \u2013 she shares. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivana especially enjoys being at sea and exploring the underwater world, as well as having access to pristine nature unavailable to others. Her favourite part of the archipelago is the island of Su\u0161ac<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Su\u0161ac has a unique energy and microclimate. Its northern side is forested, while the southern side is barren, dominated by an impressive lighthouse. And diving at Cape Tr\u0161\u0107avac <\/strong>is an unforgettable experience, \u2013 Ivana says with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the challenges, Ivana is grateful to her colleagues for encouraging her to take on this role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Many people hold prejudices about what women can or cannot do, especially in fields like maritime work<\/strong>. Sometimes I have to prove my abilities, which can be frustrating. But I believe my work and results help change attitudes. While some doubted my ability as a woman and a boat captain<\/strong>, I\u2019ve shown that I can handle the role just as well as my male colleagues, \u2013 Ivana recalls, laughing about early mishaps, like when a visitor accidentally lost their towel during a routine boat check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Croatia has a shortage of park rangers compared to the number of protected areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ivana points out that nature conservation in Croatia is still developing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Croatia has significant natural wealth requiring proper protection and oversight. However, there\u2019s still a shortage of rangers compared to the number of protected areas, a challenge other countries manage better, \u2013 she notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the shortage, Ivana sees a positive trend in the sector, with more rangers<\/strong>, including women, being hired<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 There\u2019s still room for improvement, but I\u2019m pleased with the direction we\u2019re heading. At the Lastovo Archipelago Nature Park, we now have eight rangers, as two new colleagues joined this year. Hopefully, this will ease the workload, especially during the peak season when the Park sees a surge in visitors arriving by sea and land, \u2013 she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivana highlights the physical demands of the job, particularly in summer when rangers spend hours in the sun, on boats, or patrolling the terrain. Administrative tasks, such as ticketing, are less enjoyable for her but remain essential. The summer influx of visitors also requires intense communication efforts. Working with the small local community of 500\u2013600 residents form Lastovo is easier since everyone knows each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Seasonal challenges in a protected area<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tourism brings specific challenges, particularly as many visitors are unaware of the regulations for protected areas<\/strong>. When rangers like Ivana approach visitors to enforce the rules, reactions vary. Some are curious and ask about the birds they\u2019ve seen, while others are uninterested or upset about being confronted. As in any job, there are different kinds of people here as well, and this becomes especially evident at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not always easy to stay calm, especially when dealing with people ignoring the rules or damaging the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 For example, when you come across people lighting a fire near the nests of strictly protected species, and they ignore you, thinking you’re just “playing sheriff,” it can be very frustrating. In such moments, combined with seasonal pressures and the heat, it’s easy to lose patience, especially when you’re tired or hungry, as that automatically lowers your tolerance and patience. But maintaining a professional tone with patience and clear communication is crucial. Women often excel in these areas \u2013 we\u2019re more communicative, better at languages, and often have more patience in stressful situations, \u2013 Lagetar observes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On land, illegal waste disposal <\/strong>is a common issue, while at sea, problems include unauthorised fishing, underwater activities, and habitat destruction<\/strong>. Many visitors mistakenly assume their recreational fishing permits apply within the Park, unaware that a special permit is required from the Park Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2013 Anchor damage is another major issue, destroying vital seagrass meadows. We encourage visitors to use one of four ecological anchoring locations: Saplun Bay, Skrivena Luka, Vejo Lago, and Zaklopatica<\/strong>. Studies are underway to identify more such locations, with plans to eventually prohibit free anchoring to protect marine habitats, \u2013  Ivana explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since different institutions have authority over the sea and coastal areas, coastal and marine protected areas have proven to be extremely difficult to manage in practice. The fact that the powers of rangers are very limited, especially at sea, doesn’t help either. This makes the process of dealing with and prosecuting offenders on Lastovo very challenging, considering that Lastovo is the most remote inhabited island in Croatia. It is precisely these challenges in managing protected marine areas that Sunce addressed through the EFFICIENTN2K <\/a>project. By analyzing the legal and institutional framework and conducting joint field actions in cooperation with the Italian Municipality of Ugento, we recently developed recommendations for more effective monitoring and enforcement in marine protected areas<\/a>, which we hope will strengthen and improve the work of rangers in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What everyone should know about being a ranger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When asked how she would inspire someone to pursue this career, Ivana emphasises a love for nature and a readiness for challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 This job is for those eager to learn, adapt, and make a daily difference. If you want to work outdoors, stay active, and feel that your work has meaning, this is the ideal opportunity. It requires patience and dedication, but knowing you\u2019re making a difference is worth every effort, \u2013 she assures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ivana believes awareness of the ranger profession should be promoted, especially among schoolchildren<\/strong>, as many people are unfamiliar with the role. Children often ask her if she is a police officer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 They see the uniform and badge but don\u2019t understand why I don\u2019t have a gun. This highlights the need for education and promotion of this profession. Interviews like this are a great way to showcase the role of women in this field and increase its visibility, \u2013 she concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ivana Lagetar\u2019s work and that of her colleagues underscore the importance of versatility in conservation and serve as a testament to how a love of nature can lead to a fulfilling career in this demanding yet rewarding profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Author of the photos in the article: Ivana Lagetar<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The job of a ranger in the Lastovo Archipelago Nature Park is not easy \u2013 it requires a combination of various skills, explains ranger Ivana Lagetar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":29351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1075,5,1244],"tags":[1065,21,1297],"class_list":["post-29354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-efficientn2k-strengthening-institutional-collaboration-on-surveillance-and-enforcement-in-coastal-and-marine-natura-2000-sites","category-news","category-protected-areas","tag-efficientn2k","tag-lastovsko-otocje","tag-rangers"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29354"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31330,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29354\/revisions\/31330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}