The Ranger’s 10 major functions

Major Functions of Rangers Services

1. Information, Interpretation and Environmental Education
2. Natural resource protection and planning (including monitoring and advising on conservation issues)
3. Visitor monitoring and recreation management (Most of "Ranger time" to be spent on these three)
4. Emergency and safety planning
5. Instruction in recreation
6. Supervision of staff
7. Consultation with others: eg land-owners
8. Surveillance
9. Maintenance
10. Promotion and administration

Countryside Rangers

Countryside Rangers occupy a very special place in the public enjoyment and interpretation of Scotland's landscape. This document will try to explain this and gives examples. Two themes are apparent:

First is the central theme that Environmental Education is the heart of the Rangers work, but is only part of the story - the remit of Rangers covers an enormous variety of tasks.

The second theme is that Rangers in Scotland consider themselves to be part of a national service, although they work for a wide variety of employers, in many landscapes and with urban and rural communities.

Rangers have special skills and qualities

Set against the background of the conservation remit of the national and local government authorities in Scotland (which are soon to change), are the roles of non-governmental organisations and private landlords. Rangers are employed in the public and the private sector.