Action for Change: Exploring Volunteers’ Motivations to Bolster Environmental Conservation
Faculty Mentor
Gregory Barton
Major/Area of Research
Global Studies, Environmental Studies
Description
INTRODUCTION: The climate crisis is one of the foremost global challenges of our time. Widespread degradation driven by human activities threatens ecosystems, human livelihoods, and global stability, requiring urgent, coordinated action to reduce harmful practices, address current crises, and prepare for future impacts. Large scale coordinated efforts are vital to address the myriads of issues affecting the Earth, and local volunteer communities have the potential to address this labor gap. Every individual is capable of supporting a conservation initiative's impact through hands-on action.
METHOD: This qualitative case study explores the motivations driving individuals to volunteer at the wildlife rehabilitation center the Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue (ASTR), in the hopes that identifying these motivating factors can assist in developing effective recruitment strategies for nonprofit conservation efforts. This research, based in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia, employs a participatory action methodological framework, under the lens of collective action theory, and combines surveys, semi structured interviews, and participant observation to gather qualitative data.
RESULTS: Findings reveal that the majority of volunteers fall into two categories: retirees and students seeking experience. This study discovered that numerous volunteers cited concerns regarding the local environment as a primary motivator for their actions, whereas the broader issue of the global climate crisis was rarely mentioned. Additionally, participants frequently mentioned the presence of a positive and meaningful community as a key reason for attendance.
CONCLUSION: This case study suggests that organizations effectively retain volunteers when they are invested in the mission, enjoy their time volunteering, and have the free time to dedicate to volunteering. Community engagement approaches based on bolstering these conditions may have the potential to strengthen conservation efforts by encouraging volunteers that are more likely to commit their time and resources to the organization.
Action for Change: Exploring Volunteers’ Motivations to Bolster Environmental Conservation
INTRODUCTION: The climate crisis is one of the foremost global challenges of our time. Widespread degradation driven by human activities threatens ecosystems, human livelihoods, and global stability, requiring urgent, coordinated action to reduce harmful practices, address current crises, and prepare for future impacts. Large scale coordinated efforts are vital to address the myriads of issues affecting the Earth, and local volunteer communities have the potential to address this labor gap. Every individual is capable of supporting a conservation initiative's impact through hands-on action.
METHOD: This qualitative case study explores the motivations driving individuals to volunteer at the wildlife rehabilitation center the Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue (ASTR), in the hopes that identifying these motivating factors can assist in developing effective recruitment strategies for nonprofit conservation efforts. This research, based in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia, employs a participatory action methodological framework, under the lens of collective action theory, and combines surveys, semi structured interviews, and participant observation to gather qualitative data.
RESULTS: Findings reveal that the majority of volunteers fall into two categories: retirees and students seeking experience. This study discovered that numerous volunteers cited concerns regarding the local environment as a primary motivator for their actions, whereas the broader issue of the global climate crisis was rarely mentioned. Additionally, participants frequently mentioned the presence of a positive and meaningful community as a key reason for attendance.
CONCLUSION: This case study suggests that organizations effectively retain volunteers when they are invested in the mission, enjoy their time volunteering, and have the free time to dedicate to volunteering. Community engagement approaches based on bolstering these conditions may have the potential to strengthen conservation efforts by encouraging volunteers that are more likely to commit their time and resources to the organization.