Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Social motivations may be seen as similar to those of any club member or orga-
nized social opportunities, the chance to meet new and like-minded people within
the community. People are drawn to others with similar interests. Conservation vol-
unteering offers many an alternative to the traditional pastimes of sports, or may suit
a particular age bracket (such as recent retirees). Some may also see volunteering
as a necessary step in career development, while others may have political or leader-
ship aspirations in their communities. Of course, many volunteers will have volun-
teered for a multitude of reasons. Whatever people's motivations for coastal volun-
teering, it is necessary to understand and account for these motivations in supporting
frameworks.
At the other end of the spectrum are the “ecocentrics”—those volunteers whose
motivations are more aligned with ecosystem function. Such volunteers are likely to
be naturalists and may sometimes have professional or academic links to their volun-
teering experience. Social motivations may be quite absent among these people,
many of whom will work autonomously.
Recent studies indicate that the volunteering experience is changing, too (DSE
2005). There are now more volunteers than ever, but they are volunteering for fewer
hours on average. These volunteers are more likely to volunteer for shorter-term com-
mitments and are less likely to make ongoing commitments. Many workplaces now
encourage volunteering by allocating volunteer leave, which represents a new re-
source of highly skilled people for community organizations. Many young adults see
volunteering as a necessary step in career development, and school children make
enormous contributions every year.
The Effects of Coastal Restoration
With modest means, coastal community groups have achieved significant results dur-
ing the past fifteen years. The area of coastal land under the management of coastal
volunteers is approximately 250,000 acres (100,000 hectares), comprising many
small, unconnected parcels of the public land reserve. Within this, vegetation com-
munities have been restored and maintained, access to coastal sites has been im-
proved, and community-based ecological monitoring systems have been established.
Often the effects of individual actions are modest. The coastal zone is narrow and,
therefore, susceptible to edge effects, such as invasive species infestations. Thus resto-
ration projects usually require regular maintenance, the results of which may not be
visible to the uninformed. However, when considered collectively, the ongoing ac-
tions of more than 120 groups are significant and valuable. Increasingly, volunteers
are now managing contractors to undertake heavy works, including woody weed re-
moval and earthmoving.
Ecosystems Restored
Individuals and small volunteer groups can also make significant local impacts. The
rufous bristlebird ( Dasyornis broadbenti ) is listed as endangered under the Victorian
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. The Jan Juc Coast Action Group noted the return of
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