Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Andrew Light (2002), a prominent environmental philosopher, argues that help-
ing the environment, interacting with nature, learning about natural processes, feel-
ing connected to the land, and other similar benefits realized by participants in resto-
ration projects strengthen environmental and stewardship values among participants,
making possible “stronger and better relationships of stewardship or care between hu-
man communities and the nature around them” (154). He maintains that, for this rea-
son, public participation in restoration projects, where appropriate, is equally impor-
tant to the success of a restoration project as restoring natural processes and should be
considered one of the criteria for evaluating a project's success. He argues that partic-
ipation in restoration is “as much about restoring the human relationship with nature
as it is about restoring natural processes themselves” (155).
The benefits and satisfaction that volunteers gain from participating in something
meaningful is also a significant factor in retaining volunteers and sustaining their
long-term involvement in restoration projects (Donald 1997; Miles, Sullivan, and
Kuo 2000; Ryan, Kaplan, and Grese 2001). It is important to nurture volunteers long
term by understanding their motives and recognizing that their motives can change
with time. Volunteers may initially join for altruistic reasons, but with ongoing partic-
ipation, other benefits such as social interaction, becoming more attached to an area,
and increased knowledge may become more important (Ryan, Kaplan, and Grese
2001). Another important contributor to long-term involvement is the need for volun-
teers to see that their efforts accomplish something tangible and positive (Donald
1997; Miles, Sullivan, and Kuo 2000). Volunteers are not “free labor, but individuals
who will keep coming if their needs are fulfilled” (Ryan, Kaplan, and Grese 2001,
645).
Barriers and Constraints
Just as understanding and nurturing the motives and desires of volunteers can lead to
successful recruitment and retention of volunteers, ignoring them can inhibit such ef-
forts. Christie (2004) found that volunteers would commonly discontinue participa-
tion due to a perceived lack of tangible results, unrealistic expectations, a lack of guid-
ance, and frustration with supervisors. Other barriers and constraints can affect an
individual's willingness and ability to volunteer. The primary constraints to participa-
tion in voluntary activities are typically time, work commitments, and money (Scott
1994). In a study of volunteers in an environmental stewardship group, Donald
(1997) found time commitments related to work, family or personal matters, and in-
volvement in other volunteer activities were significant constraints to becoming more
active volunteers.
Model of a Successful Stewardship Group
Since all of these motives, benefits, barriers, and constraints need to be kept in mind,
having a useful theoretical framework for understanding and predicting willingness to
participate in volunteer stewardship activities would be a powerful tool for a volunteer
