volunteering and national parks in...

A paper reviewing how more National Parks in Scotland could generate an increase in volunteering – therefore benefiting the local economy, the environment and health and wellbeing of volunteers.

REPORT 04 / MARCH 2016

Volunteering andNational Parks in Scotland The potential value and benefits of more National Parks in Scotland

Author : Graham C. Barrow BA(Hons) MSc MPhil for the Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS).

APRS

1.1 Thisisthe4thNationalParkresearchpaperproducedbytheScottishCampaignforNationalParks(SCNP)andtheAssociationfortheProtectionofRuralScotland(APRS).ItfollowsonfromUnfinishedBusiness–aNationalParksStrategyforScotlandpublishedin2013bySCNP/APRSandsubsequentpapersonthesocio-economicbenefitsofNationalParks,parkgovernanceoptionsandthebenefitsofmoreNationalParksforthetouristindustryinScotland.Thispaper,draftedbySCNPBoardmemberGrahamBarrow,presentsthecasethatthedesignationofmoreNationalParksinScotlandwouldgenerateavaluableincreaseinvolunteeractivity,benefittingtheparkenvironment,thelocaleconomyandthehealthandwellbeingoftheindividualsinvolved.

1.2 VolunteeringisbigbusinessandVolunteerScotlandhascalculatedthattheworkcarriedoutbyallvolunteersinScotlandispossiblyworthsome£2.6billionperannum(2014figures).Thisfigureisarrivedatthroughasimplecalculationusingthetimevolunteershavegiventoorganisationsorgroupsmultipliedbytheaverage(median)wage.Butthispurelyfinancialcalculationdoesnotincludetheinvaluablepersonal,social,health,communityandenvironmentalbenefits,whicharelesstangibleanddifficulttomeasureinmonetaryterms.

1.3 NationalParkshave,sincetheircreationinNorthAmericaandtheirarrivalintheUKinthe1950s,stimulatedvolunteeringinarangeofactivities.TheprotectionandmanagementoftheUK’sfinestlandscapesandhabitatscertainlygeneratesastrongsenseofcommitmentinmanypeopleofallagesandtheNationalParkAuthoritiesandassociatedparksupportorganisationspotentiallyhavetheskillsandwherewithaltostimulateandmanagevolunteers.Organisinganddirectingvolunteershaveacost,butthebenefitsoutweighthismanyfold,asthispaperdemonstrates.

1.4 ThispaperseekstoquantifythevalueofadditionalvolunteeringthatafullydevelopedNationalParksysteminScotlandcouldstimulate.Thisisconservativelyestimatedatabout£500,000perannum(seeChapters7and8).ButthisfigurerepresentsonlythevolunteeringthatwouldbemanageddirectlybytheNationalParkAuthoritiesandthereislikelytobeothervolunteeringstimulatedineachnewNationalParkbutmanagedbyothervoluntarybodieswhosupportparkpurposes.

1.Introduction

THESCOTTISHCAMPAIGNFORNATIONALPARKSANDTHEASSOCIATIONFORTHEPROTECTIONOFRURALSCOTLAND

01

FUTURENATIONALPARKSINSCOTLANDVOLUNTEERING

2.1 VolunteersconductarangeofdifferentactivitiesinNationalParksaroundtheworldandthemaintypesareinoneofsixcategories:

• physicalconstructionandmaintenancetasks

• interpretationandeducationservices

• scientificresearchandmonitoring

• mountainsafetyandrescue

• fundraising,and

• marketingandadministration.

2.2 Physical construction and maintenance tasksarefrequentlycarriedoutbyvolunteersandNationalParkscanoftenhavealoyallocalgrouportheyorganisespecificvolunteerprojects,particularlyinthesummermonths.Commontasksperformedbyvolunteergroupsinclude:

• Footpathconstructionandrepair

• Wallandfencerepair

• Hedgeplantingandlaying

• Treeplanting

• Viewpointconstruction

• Erectionofsignsandway-marks

• Litterclearance

• Pondandrivercourseclearance

• Woodlandmanagementandundergrowthclearance

• Removalofunwantedtreesandbushesfromwetlands.

2.TheworkcarriedoutbyvolunteersinNationalParks


2.3 MostofthesetasksareorganisedandoverseenbyeithertheNationalPark’sownrangerserviceorbyacompetentorganisationworkingwiththeNationalParkAuthority,suchasTheConservationVolunteers.

2.4 TheLochLomondandtheTrossachsNationalParkhasaVolunteerManagerandhascreatedarangeofvolunteeropportunitiesandthesehavebecomesopopularthatvacanciesarepresentlyfull.TheFriendsofLochLomondandtheTrossachsalsooffervolunteerrolesintheparkareaandthereareahostofotherorganisationswhichofferconservationvolunteeringsuchastheNationalTrustforScotlandatBenLomondandtheRoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirdsatWard’sFarm.ItisdifficulttoascertainhowfarnumbersattractedtovolunteerintheseplacespartlydosobecausetheyareinaNationalPark.

2.5 Interpretation and Education servicesarealsoregularlyprovidedbyvolunteersinmanyNationalParks.ForexampleguidedwalksareorganisedbyvolunteerrangersinthePeakDistrictNationalParkinEnglandandeveningtalks,bothwithintheparkandatnearbyclubsandsocieties,areregularlyprovided.

2.6 IntheNorthAmericanNationalParksitiscommontoseetheinformationdeskinthemainvisitorcentrestaffedbyavolunteerfromtheCooperatingAssociation(friend’sorganisation)oftheNationalParkandevents,talksanddemonstrationsareregularlyprovidedbythesevolunteers.

2.7 Scientific Research and Monitoring activityisalsoacommonvolunteertaskwithsurveysofbirdsandotherwildlifeortherecordingofflora,watersampling,trappingofsmallmammalsandmeteorologicalmonitoring.

2.8 ForexampletheOlympicNationalParkinWashingtonState,USAhasrecruitedvolunteerstocarryoutasurveyofthedistributionandactivitiesofmarmots,whilstonDeesideintheCairngormsNationalParkyoungpeoplefromtheBrathayExplorationGrouphaveinrecentyearsbeenmonitoringthewatervolepopulation,withguidancefromlocalstaffoftheNationalTrustforScotland.


02

Volunteers working on a pathHelvellyn – Lake District National Park

2.9 Mountain safety and rescue teamsareoftenstaffedbyvolunteersandmanyoperateserviceswithinthemountainousNationalParksaroundtheworld,suchasthelargevolunteerteambasedinEdaleinthePeakDistrict.

2.10 FundraisingisanotherregularvolunteertaskforNationalParks.TheFriendsofNationalParksorganisationsthataresoactiveinmanyoftheUKNationalParksraisemanythousandsofpoundsperannumforconservationandeducationprojects.

2.11 ArecentexampleinScotlandisthefundraisingthattookplacetoerecttheTomWeirstatueatBalmaha,LochLomond.Thiswasco-ordinatedbyavolunteergroupandraisedover£50,000.

2.12 Marketing and Administrationisanothervolunteeractivitythatoftensuitsoldermembersofthecommunityorthosewithparticularofficeskills.TheofficesoftheCooperatingAssociationsofmanyoftheUSNationalParksarefullofvolunteerswhoarepromotingmemberships,organisingeventsandproducingpromotionalliterature.


2.13 ThevolunteersformanyofthesetaskscanlivemanymilesfromtheNationalParksthemselvesandwhilstregularvolunteersmaybedrawnfromthelocalpopulation,manyotherscombinethevoluntarytaskswithweekendandlongerleisurebreaks.

2.14 SomeNationalParks,especiallyincountries

withlimitedpopulations,attractinternationalvolunteers,suchastheworkingpartiesthatcarryoutfootpathmaintenanceeverysummerontheThorsmorkareainsouthernIceland(seecasestudybelow).Thesevolunteerscontributetothelocaleconomyandareatypeofworkingholidaytourist.Scotland’sinternationallyrenownedlandscapesandwildlifehavethepotentialtoattractmanyofthesetypesofvolunteers–bringingskills,commitmentandmoneytoScotlandandintotheseruralareas.

Imageslefttoright/clockwise.

VolunteerInformationAssistantsatCanyonRim VisitorCentre,USA.

TheEdaleMountainRescueteaminthePeakDistrict NationalPark,England.

DonorswiththeTomWeirstatue,Balmaha,LochLomond.

Volunteersurveyorsatanarchaeologicalsiteinthe LakeDistrictNationalPark.


03

3.1 RangerserviceshaveanestablishedroleinNationalParksandalltheUKNationalParkshavethem–someboostedbyanactivepoolofvolunteerrangers.RangersarethelinkbetweenthevisitingandlocalpublicandtheNationalParkAuthority.Rangershavelocalknowledgeaboutwhattosee,wheretogoandthewildlifeandhistoryoftheNationalPark.Answeringquestionsfromthepublicanddealingwithlocalcommunitiesareanimportantpartofaranger’sjob.NationalParkrangerslookoutforpotentialproblems,likestilesorsignpoststhatneedattentionandthenworkwithstaffandvolunteerstorepairthem.Theyalsoworktoreduceanyproblematicalissuesbetweenvisitorsandlocalpeopleandfarmersorlandowners.ManyrangerstakeschoolgroupsoutintotheNationalParkandworkwithvolunteerstoruneventsforthepublic.

3.2 Arangerserviceisoftenthefocusforthecreation,managementandpromotionofvolunteeringinaNationalPark.Thecostsofprovidingarangerservicecanbeoffsetmany-foldbythevalueofthevolunteerworkthatiscarriedout.Thevolunteercoordinatorroleisoneofthemostrewardingjobsthatrangerservicesprovide.

3.3 Full-timerangerservicescanalsobeaugmentedbyvolunteerswhocanthemselvescoordinatefurthervolunteersasappropriate.InthePeakDistrictNationalParkinEngland,forexample,thereisanactivevolunteerrangerforce.TheparkrangerserviceinthePeakDistrictprovidesacomprehensivetrainingcoursethatisopentopeoplefromtheageof18whowouldliketobecomevolunteerrangers.Volunteerrangersattendaseriesoftrainingcoursesandthenhavetosignuptoatleast20patrolsorsessionsofactivityperannum–manydomorethanthis.

3.Theimportanceof RangerServices forvolunteers



04Schoolchildren enjoy learning with rangers and volunteers

4.1 EarlyinthehistoryoftheNationalParkmovementintheUSAandCanadatheconceptoftheCooperatingAssociationemerged.AfterthefoundingoftheUSNationalParksServicein1916severalnot-for-profitorganisationswereformedtosupporteducationalandinterpretativeprogramsandprojectsthatwerenotcoveredbygovernmentfunding,thefirstbeingtheYosemiteAssociationformedin1923.Thesenot-for-profitorganisationsbecameknownas“CooperatingAssociations”by1936,andwereformallyrecognisedbyCongressin1946andgiventaxexemptions.

4.2 HavingavoluntaryorganisationthatsupportstheworkofaNationalParkAuthorityhasnotbeenexactlycopiedintheUKtodate,withmanyofour“Friendsof”NationalParkSocietieshavingtheirrootsinthelobbyingforandprotectionoftheareathatthenbecamedesignatedasaNationalPark.TheirrelationshipwiththeParkAuthorityisthereforeattimesmoredetachedthanbeingadirectsupporteroftheworkoftheAuthority.NeverthelesstheycanencourageasignificantmembershipandpotentiallycarryoutarangeofworkthatsupportsNationalParkpurposes.

4.CooperatingAssociationsandFriendsGroups


05

4.3 InScotlandthemostsuccessfulNationalParkfriendsgroupisthatfortheLochLomondandtheTrossachsNationalParkwhichhasagrowingmembershipandanannualturnoverofover£100,000.RecentorcurrentprojectssupportedbytheFriendsofLochLomondandtheTrossachs,manyofwhichinvolvedtheuseofvolunteers,include:

• AcomprehensiveParkGuide

• AbookletwiththeresultsofthefirsteverarchaeologicalsurveyofLochLomond‘sislands

• VideosandDVDsonlocalclansandthespecialqualitiesofthePark

• ARedSquirrelProjectwiththeCowalRedSquirrelGroup

• ImprovementsandsigningontheThreeLochsWay

• FootpathsandinterpretationatBracklinnFalls,Callander

• Way-markingandinformationforwalkersontheRobRoyWay

• HelpingsecurethefutureoftheArdroyOutdoorEducationCentre

• TheproductionofaneducationalinformationpackforthepaddlesteamerMaidoftheLoch.

4.4 FriendsGroupshavethepotentialtoattractfundingfromarangeofsourcesandincreasinglyfromlegacies,sometimesofsignificantsize.ThisisanotherexampleofhowvolunteeractivityinNationalParkscanbenefitthelocaleconomybyattractingfinanceintoalocalruralarea.



06

5.1 Manyvolunteers,particularlythoseatthestartoftheircareers,arelookingforexperienceandqualificationstohelpthemobtainpaidemployment.VolunteeringwithaNationalParkprojectisanidealwayforsometogetthis

stepup.

5.2 ForexampleTheConservationVolunteers(TCV,formerlyBTCV)carryoutsignificantvolunteerworkintheUKNationalParksinpartnershipwiththeNationalParkAuthoritiesortheNationalTrusts.Theyprovidevolunteerswiththechancetogainskillsandgetrecognitionfortheirwork.

5.3 TCVrunawiderangeofshortcourseseveryyearwithexperiencedinstructorsteachingpracticalskills,suchasbuildingadrystonewall,creatingapondorwoodlandmanagementtasks.TCVofferscoursestoprogressayoungperson’scareer,aspartofseekingacareerchangeintotheenvironmentalsector,aspriorlearningaspartofalargerqualification,orjustforenjoyment.EveryonecompletinganyofthetrainingreceivesanAchievementCertificate,oranAttendanceCertificatefromTheConservationVolunteers.

5.4 TCVScotlandcanofferasuiteofaccreditedlearningopportunities,predominantlyforyoungpeople.TheyarearegisteredcentrewiththeScottishQualificationsAuthority(SQA),NorthernCollegeforFurtherEducation(NCFE)andwithYouthScotland,enablingTCVtodelivertheYouthAchievementandDynamicYouthAwards.TheycanalsoofferLANTRA(landbasedandenvironmentalindustries)accreditedtrainingtoyoungpeoplethroughtheirtrainingprogramme.

5.Training,qualificationsandcareerenhancement


5.5 Ithasbeensuggestedbysomeinthepastthatvolunteerscantakeworkawayfrompaidemployees,butitisgenerallyacceptedthatthetypesofworkthatvolunteerscarryoutinNationalParkswouldnotbedonewithouttheirvoluntaryeffort.Thereissomeindicationthatintimesofpublicbudgetrestraintthereispressuretogetsometaskscarriedoutbyvolunteersthatwerepreviouslytheroleofpaidstaff.

6.1 Volunteeringisgoodforpeopleaswellasfortheenvironmentandallseriousevaluativestudieshavecometothisconclusion.Forexamplein2008astudyfortheForestryCommissionandScottishForestryTrustconcluded:

“…volunteersarenotonlymotivatedforenvironmentalreasonsbutalsobythepersonalbenefitstheygainfromtheoutdooropportunitiesandthesocialnatureofenvironmentalactivities.Volunteerslearnnewskillsandmeetotherswhileimprovingtheirhealth,well-beingandqualityoflife.Environmentalvolunteeringoffersarangeofopportunitiestosuitpeoplewithdiverseinterestsandabilities.Theenvironmentprovidesacommonlanguageforallandasharedpurposeindependentofgender,ethnicbackground,age,physicalability,mentalfunctioning,socio-economicstatusorknowledgeofenvironmentalmanagement”

6.2 Theresearch,basedonforestryvolunteersinScotland,concludedthatthehealthbenefitscouldbeclassifiedasfollows:

• BeingOutdoors–freshairandcontactwithnature

• Physical–stamina,strength,fitnessandweightmanagement

• Mental–restoration,calmingandreflective

• Social–meetingpeople,networksandfeelingpartofacommunity

• Spiritual–awe,beautyandwonder.

6.Healthbenefits


6.3 FocussingonrecentresearchonenvironmentalvolunteeringinCornwall–HarrisonandM.andC.Leyshon(2012)–haveshownthepositivementalandphysicalbenefitsofthistypeofoutdoorvolunteering.Oneoftheirkeyconclusionsis:

“Participationinenvironmentalvolunteerismprovidesaframeworktoproduceextensiveshiftsinpsychologicalandfunctionalstates.Thecontextofenvironmentalvolunteeringisparamounttothisprocess.Throughbeingclosertonaturewithinconstructivesocialinteractionsandactions,participationunitestheduelbenefitsofwellbeingandenvironmentalchangeinasingleaction.Thishasextensiveimplicationsforcommunities,places,peopleandpolitics.Ourstudydemonstratesthatenvironmentalvolunteeringisvitallycapableofimprovinglivesandlivelihoods.”

6.4 Itisnoteasytoputafinancialvalueonthehealthbenefitsofcountrysidevolunteeringbutitclearlyhasasignificantroletoplayinpreventingsomephysicalandmentalillnessesandhelpingotherstorecover.Theriseofobesityisoneobviousareawherethephysicalworkofconservationvolunteeringhasrelevance.

6.5 ArecentNHSReport(2012)hasestimatedthatforjustfiveconditions(Post-menopausalbreastcancer,lowergastro-intestinalcancer,cerebro-vasculardisease,cardio-vasculardiseaseandtype2diabetes).inoneyearalone,theburdenofphysicalinactivityintheUKcausedover35,000deaths,3.1%ofmorbidityandmortalityintheUKandaddedover£1.06billiontothedirecthealthcostburdenontheNHS.

6.6 MoreNationalParksinScotlandcouldprovidetheadministrativeframeworkandstimulusforagrowthintheopportunitiesforcountrysidevolunteeringandmakeapositivecontributiontothephysicalandmentalwellbeingoftheScottishpopulation.


07


7.1 ThispaperhasalreadyshownthatthevalueofvolunteeringactivitiesinNationalParkscannotbesimplydescribedinfinancialterms,asthereareclearbenefitstotheenvironmentandtoindividuals,whichcannoteasilybequantified.Neverthelessitispossibletomakesomeestimationsofthevalueofthevolunteeractivityintermsofthecostofprovidingtheservicesiftheyhadhadtohavebeenpurchased.

7.2 DEFRA(2012)carriedoutanassessmentofthebenefitsoftheNationalParksinEnglandandwithinthatstudylookedatthevalueofvolunteertime.Table1quotesthreeexampleswithdatafrom2008/9.

7.3 ThereisacostinprovidingthevolunteeropportunitiesandinthePeakDistrictthiswasestimatedat£228,450meaningthatthepostivecost-benefitratiowasabout3to1.

7.Thevalueofwork

7.4 TheLakeDistrictNationalParkAuthorityrecorded4,669volunteerdaysin2013/14whichcouldbevaluedatleast£212,440–applyingtheminimumwageof£6.50perhour.TheseareonlythevolunteersworkingdirectlytotheNationalParkAuthorityanddonotincludethevolunteertimeofthoseworkingonprojectsintheNationalParkfortheNationalTrust,WildlifeTrustsandothercountrysideorganisations,whichareextensive.

7.5 Inadditiontothedirectvalueoftheworkthereisalsothelesseasytoquantifyvaluetoboththeenvironmentandtotheindividualshealthandwell-being.EncouragingactiveparticipationincountrysidevolunteeringactivitywillhaveapositiveeffectonreducingcoststotheScottishhealthservices.


08

Table1

Dartmoor PeakDistrict Northumberland NumberofVolunteerdaysin2008/9 2,140 10,116 1,250

Numberofvolunteerhours 14,980 70,812 8,750(assuming 7 hour days)

Valueofvolunteersusing £165,229 £781,056 £96,518UKhourlypayrates

Valueofvolunteersusing £88,831 £419,915 £51,888minimumwagerates

Source:DEFRA(2012)

8.1 ItisreasonabletosurmisethatthecreationofeachnewNationalParkinScotlandwouldcreateanincreaseinvolunteeringopportunitiesandparticipation.Notallofthisvolunteeractivitywouldbenewvolunteering,assomemaybedisplacedfromothervolunteeractivitiesinthisfieldorinthesamegeographicalarea.ButtheexperienceofboththeLochLomondandtheTrossachsandtheCairngormNationalParksindicatesthatanewNationalParkAuthoritywillencourageanincreaseinvolunteeractivity.

8.2 TherewouldbeadvantagesinthisincreasedvolunteeringbothforScottishpeopleandforthelocalenvironment.TheattractionofvolunteersfromoutwithScotlandwouldalsobeofvalue–particularlyintheremoterruralareas–asthiswouldbringabenefittotheeconomythroughatypeofworkingholidaytourism.

8.3 Table2estimatestheamountandvalueoftheextravolunteeringthatcouldbegeneratedbyeachoftheproposednewNationalParkssuggestedintheSCNP/APRSNationalParks

8.HowmoreNationalParks inScotlandcould stimulatevolunteering


09

StrategyforScotlandreport(2013).Thefiguresareconservativeestimatestotakeintoaccountsomedisplacedvolunteeractivity.TheyarebasedontheamountofvolunteeractivitygeneratedbyotherNationalParkAuthoritiesintheUK,withaconsiderationofthegeographicalremotenessandsizeofthelocaldaytrippopulationfortheproposedNationalParksinScotland.

8.4 TheseestimatesindicatethattheoverallvalueofthevolunteeringcreatedbythefulldevelopmentofthesevennewNationalParksinScotlandproposedbySCNP/APRScouldbeintheregionof£500,000p.a.SomeoftheorganisationofthisvolunteeringcouldbetackledcentrallyshouldaScottishNationalParksServicebecreated,althoughtherewouldalmostinevitablybetheneedforlocalsupervisionandorganisationineachparkarea.

8.5 Theaboveestimatesdonotincludethesignificantvalueoftheworktothevolunteersthemselvesandtotheenvironment,bothofwhichareverydifficulttoquantifybutcouldincreasethetruevalueofthevolunteeractivitybytwoorthreefold.


(1)Overnightstaysofvolunteersvaluedat£50aday/nighttolocaleconomy(2)Grossvaluecalculatedat£70perday(£10perhour)forvolunteertime(3)Costsestimatedat30%ofoverallgrossvalue(stafftimeandoverheads)(4)Valueofworkpluslocaleconomicvalueofovernightstaysminuscostsofprovision.

Table2:ThePotentialValueofVolunteeringintheproposedNationalParksinScotland

Proposed Annualdays %of Numberof Valueof Grossvalue Costof TotalvalueNational ofvoluntary volunteering days nightstays ofvolunteer voluntary ofvolunteeringPark activity involving overnight tolocal work.p.a. provision tothearea nightstays stays economyp.a.(1) p.a.(2) p.a.(3) p.a.(4)

Galloway 2000 20 400 £20,000 £140,000 £42,000 £118,000

Cheviots 750 20 150 £7,500 £52,500 £15,750 £44,250

Nevis 1500 40 600 £30,000 £105,000 £31,500 £103,500GlenCoeBlackMount

Coastal 1000 50 500 £25,000 £70,000 £21,000 £74,000Marine

GlenAffric 750 30 225 £11,250 £52,500 £15,750 £48,000

WesterRoss 750 40 300 £15,000 £52,500 £15,750 £51,750

Harris 500 60 300 £15,000 £35,000 £10,500 £39,500

TOTALS 7250 2475 £123,750 £507,500 £152,250 £479,000

9.1 NationalParksgeneratevolunteeringopportunitiesthroughthestimulusandorganisationalframeworkoftheNationalParkAuthorities.ThecreationofmoreNationalParksinScotlandwouldcreateagrowthinvolunteeringintheseareas.

9.2 EncouragingmorevolunteeringintheNationalParkareaswouldbeofbenefittotheenvironment,totheindividualswhovolunteerandtosomeextenttothelocaleconomy.

9.3 Volunteeropportunitiesinremoteruralareasattractsatypeofworkingtourist,bringingwiththemtheeconomicbenefitsoftheirspending,especiallyiftheystayovernightforsomedays.

9.4 ThispaperhasestimatedthatthevalueoftheworkthatcouldbestimulatedbydevelopingallsevenofthenewNationalParksrecommendedintheUnfinishedBusiness–AParksStrategyforScotlandreportcouldbewortharound

£0.5millionperannumplusthehealthbenefitstothosetakingpartandanassociatedreductionincoststotheHealthServices.AdditionalvolunteeringwouldalsobestimulatedbutorganisedbyvoluntarybodiesintheNationalParkareas.


9.Conclusions


10Glen Nevis

TheLakeDistrictNationalParkAuthorityhasaround500registeredvolunteersfromallwalksoflife.Theygivetheirtime,skillsandenergytohelplookafterthelandscape,enablevisitorstoenjoyitsspecialqualitiesandsupportthewiderworkoftheNationalParkAuthority.In2013/14itwasestimatedthatthesevolunteersgave4,669volunteerdays.Thecostsoforganisingthevolunteersresultedinover3timesthatfigureinthecalculatedvalueoftheirwork.

Volunteershavetobeaged16orover,andthereisnoupperagelimit.TheNationalParkAuthorityalsorunaYoungRangerprogrammeforyoungpeopleaged14to18whoarekeentogetinvolvedwithveryhandsonpracticalvolunteering.

Volunteersarerecruitedintomanydifferentroleswithvaryingtimecontributions–rangingfromonedayforoneoffactivitiessuchasmarshallingevents,to20daysayearforsomeofthemorespecialistroleslikeLakeRangers.

Park Management VolunteersarerecruitedwhentheParkAuthorityhavetasksforthemtodo,andintorolesthatmatchvolunteers’skills,knowledge,experienceandmotivation.Volunteer Events and Guided Walk LeadersarealsousedbytheParkAuthority.Archaeology Volunteershavealsobeenrecruitedwhentherearespecificprojectsandarchaeologicalevents.

APPENDIX

SomeexperiencefromelsewhereLAKEDISTRICTNATIONALPARK,ENGLAND

APPENDIX1

The Lake District Young Rangersprogrammefor14to19yearoldsishelpingtotransformthelivesoffuturegenerationsandhelpingthemcarefortheLakeDistrictlandscape.WorkingalongsideNationalParkstaff,volunteersandpartners,theydevelopamonthlyprogrammeofactivitiessuchaspracticalconservationtasksandrecreationalactivities.

TheBrockholeCentreandCountryParkmanagedbytheNPAalsohasarangeofvolunteerprogrammes.Theseare:

• Anew Family Ranger programme helpsfamiliesdiscover,exploreandconservethecountryparkarea.ThevolunteersarethemainpointofcontactforallFamilyRangeractivities,fromlakeshorelitterpickstopracticalconservationtasks,liaisingwiththeleadersandcoordinatingattendance.Thevolunteersmaybeaskedtoleadactivitiessuchasponddippingorsimpleguidedtrails.

• Wayfinder volunteersarebasedatWaterheadandBownessBaypiers,onedayamonth,greetingvisitorswhoaretravellingonWindermereLakeCruisesboatsandencouragingthemtovisitBrockhole.

• Brockhole Ambassadorshelpoutonweekends

andduringschoolholidaystoensurethatvisitorstoBrockhole,VisitorCentrehaveaworldclassvisitorexperience.TheywelcomvisitorsandgivethemtheinformationtomakethemostoftheirvisitalongwithothertaskssuchasdrivingtheBrockmobileandhelpingwithcrazygolfhire.Thevolunteersalsogetinvolvedwithmanyofthespecialeventstakingplacethroughouttheseason.

• Garden and Ground Maintenance VolunteersplayakeypartinmaintainingthegardensandgroundsatBrockholebycompletingtaskssuchasplanting,paintingandwallrepairs.

Formoreinformationsee: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/caringfor/volunteering


11

Project Tongariro(TongariroNaturalHistorySocietyInc)wasestablishedin1984topromoteawiderunderstandingofthenaturalprocessesandhumanhistoryofTongariroNationalPark.TheSocietywasendowedwithasubstantialMemorialFundinmemoryofseveralparkstaffwhodiedinahelicopteraccidenton9December1982.

ProjectTongariroisdevotedtoimplementingawidevarietyofprojectsandactivitieswhichhelppeopletounderstandandappreciatethespecialplaceTongariroNationalPark,adualworldheritagepark,hasintheworld.

WorkinginpartnershipwiththeDepartmentofConservation(DOC),ProjectTongariro’svisionistopromoteawiderknowledgeandunderstandingoftheflora,fauna,geology,climateandthenaturalandhumanhistoryofTongariroNationalParkinparticularandtoconservationingeneral.AdeeprespectforNewZealand’swildplacesandrecognitionoftheintangiblespiritualvaluesassociatedwiththemunderliesthisvision.

Theirworkfocusesonfourkeyprojectareas:biodiversity,history,educationandrecreation.ProjectsintheParkhaverangedfromongoingpestcontrolwork,therestorationoftheHapuawhenuaViaduct,initiatingtheTussockTraverseevent,totheproductionoftheTongariroAlpineCrossingPocketRangerApp.

ThepublicareencouragedtoasupporttheProjectbybecomingamember,adoptingahectareatLakeRotopounamuormakingadonation.Theyofferopportunitiesforpeopletogethandsonwithconservationasvolunteers,goonmembers’fieldtripstolittle-knownpartsoftheParkorsupportprojectsbymakingafinancialcontribution.In2013/14theprojecthadthreefulltimestaffwith279voluntarymembersand808supporters.Thevolunteerscarriedoutanestimated625persondaysofworkwhichwasvaluedat$93,750.Theorganisationhadanincomeof$210,000whichincludedagrantfromtheDOC.

ThisvolunteerbodyhasmanyofthecharacteristicsofaCooperatingAssociationaspioneeredbytheUSANationalParks.

Formoreinformationsee:www.tongariro,org.nz

SomeexperiencefromelsewhereTONGARIRONATIONALPARK,NEWZEALAND

APPENDIX1


12

APPENDIX1

The Thórsmörk trail volunteer programmewasestablishedbyIceland’sForestServicein2012.ItsmainroleistoassistwiththemaintenanceofthehikingtrailsinThórsmörkandGoðaland.Theprogrammewasestablishedinresponsetothegrowingneedforpracticalmaintenanceworkinthearea.Threevolunteerteamsareactivethroughoutthesummermonths.Aswellasongoingmaintenancetasks,animportantpartoftheirworkisthedevelopmentofnewtechniquesfortrailconstructionanderosioncontrol.

Althoughtheprogrammeisyoung,themanagementteamhasover15yearsexperienceofmaintaininghikingtrailswithvolunteerteamsonsitesthroughoutIceland.VolunteersworkalongsidestaffandtrainersfromtheForestService.Theworkisinthreeareas–trailmaintenance,trailmappinganderosioncontrol.

Theycurrentlyhostabout50internationalvolunteerseachseason.Volunteersareselecteddirectlyfromapplicationsandnonotpayaparticipationfee.Theyarecommittedto“freevolunteering”butareprovidedwithfoodandcampingbarntypeaccommodation.

ThemajorityofthevolunteerscometoIcelandfromEuropeandNorthAmerica.TheyareonaformofworkingholidayandmakeacontributiontothelocaleconomyofIceland.SomecombinetheirvolunteeringwithalongerholidayinIceland.

Formoreinformationsee:www.trailteam.is

THORSMORKTRAILVOLUNTEERS,ICELAND

A typical group of Thorsmork Trail volunteers

Volunteers being briefed at Thorsmork before a days work

Someexperiencefromelsewhere


13

Unfinished Business – A National Parks Strategy for Scotland.

ScottishCampaignforNationalParksandAssociationfortheProtectionofRuralScotland(2013).

Volunteer Management in European Parks

ResearchonimpactofvolunteeringinEuropeanprotectedareas.

JohnThomson,EuroparcConsulting(2013).

Environmental volunteering: motivations, barriers and benefits.

ReporttotheScottishForestryTrustandForestryCommission.

LizO’Brien,MardieTownsendandMatthewEbden,(July2008).

Environmental Volunteering

FosteringWellbeingforPeople,PlacesandCommunities.

R.Harrison,M.LeyshonandC.Leyshon(2012).

National Parks.

Assessmentofbenefits–workingpaper.

DEFRA(2011).

Let’s Get Moving – A physical activity care pathway.

NHS(2012).

REFERENCES



14

National Parks recommended by SCNP and APRS 2013

MapreproducedbypermissionofOrdnanceSurvey,licencenumber100053751.*ForlayoutpurposestheShetlandIslandsarenotshowninthecorrectgeographicalposition.

If you would like further information on the activities of the Scottish Campaign for National Parksplease contact :John Thomson – Secretaryemail [email protected] visit the website www.scnp.org.uk

GOT A QUESTION? – GET IN TOUCH

For information on the activities of theAssociation for the Protection of Rural Scotlandplease contact :John Mayhew – Directoremail [email protected] visit the website www.aprs.scot

design / Stone Circle / e: [email protected] – Glen Nevis ©SNH

volunteering and national parks in...

Documents