Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Restoration and Stewardship Volunteerism
MARTY LEE AND PAUL HANCOCK
Recent scholars writing on the topic of ecological restoration propose a holistic view
of ecosystem restoration wherein both ecosystem needs and human needs must be
considered in the design and implementation of restoration projects. Such a view sug-
gests that both ecosystems and restoration practitioners benefit from restoration proj-
ects (Higgs 2003; Clewell and Aronson 2006, 2007; Light 2008). Within this recipro-
cal relationship, humans contribute ecological knowledge, techniques, participation,
and commitment that benefit degraded ecosystems (see chap. 18, this volume). Con-
versely, involvement in restoration projects contributes to human well-being in a
variety of ways including restoring ecosystem values, such as biodiversity and natural
capital. Such actions also provide participants with psychological, physiological, eco-
nomic and spiritual benefits, including learning new things, connecting with the nat-
ural environment, earning a living, doing something worthwhile, making amends for
human-caused environmental damage, and realizing personally renewing experi-
ences (Miles, Sullivan, and Kuo 2000; Clewell and Aronson 2006; chap. 16, this vol-
ume). Geist and Galatowitsch (1999) among others suggest that, while critical to suc-
cessful ecological restoration, scientific knowledge alone cannot ensure success.
Ongoing human participation and commitment are critical to ensuring the long-term
success and sustainability of restoration projects.
Humans play various roles in ecological restoration projects: sponsors, administra-
tors, decision makers, and practitioners—those who supervise and carry out projects
in the field. This chapter focuses on a specific group of practitioners—volunteers—
those people who give their time on a voluntary basis with the common purpose of
preserving, protecting, and restoring nature.
Volunteers contribute thousands of hours and perform a variety of restoration func-
tions, including education, research, fund raising, and physical labor (e.g., gathering
seeds, planting trees, removing exotic plant species, and ecosystemmonitoring). Land
managers, researchers, and others engaged in ecological restoration are increasingly
relying on the efforts of volunteers, many of whom belong to organized groups.
We refer to these organized groups of volunteers as volunteer stewardship groups,
