When most people think of environmental volunteering, they usually imagine massive cleanups and tree plantings. But these are just a few of the many ways you can help the environment. Personal finances also require accuracy and transparency, so check out installment loans for bad credit online.
Wildlife monitoring
Volunteers in this area do not need professional training to observe changes in natural life. Those who wish to help can dive and monitor coral reefs, hike in the mountains, and go on hikes with reserve staff to observe changes in the environment and its inhabitants. Groups of volunteers regularly help with wildlife and bird censuses. Volunteers also help with flora and fauna photo and video observations. Volunteers also help solve environmental problems, such as preventing the burning of dry vegetation or the accumulation of unauthorized household waste dumps on reserve lands.
Animal rehabilitation and rescue
A volunteer activity that helps preserve species and their habitats is helping animals affected by natural disasters or human activities. If you want to help, you can join an animal shelter, a rehabilitation center, or even a team of animal rescuers who save animals from poachers. You will have wonderful experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime, such as caring for bats or saving a population of sea turtles.
Advocacy
Advocacy is a way to influence government policy and individual companies or businesses. Volunteers in this area can be involved in the design and implementation of projects that will influence government decisions, document and media work, and the organization of campaigns. Volunteers develop creative ideas, produce materials, write scripts, and participate in the event itself in preparation for the campaign.
Educational volunteering
Eco enthusiasts can share their knowledge through teaching at schools and universities, speaking engagements, discussion clubs, or information events. Often, volunteer organizations offer free classes, and anyone can take advantage of this and host an educational event at their school, university, or workplace. A popular form of educational volunteering today is social media blogging, which is dedicated to eco-friendly lifestyles, veganism, zero-waste lifestyles, etc.
Information volunteering
Each year, thousands of volunteers from around the world write articles, conduct research, and shoot documentaries, photos, and videos to inform the world about today’s environmental issues.
Travel volunteering
Do you love to travel, know how to make a fire, pitch a tent, and provide first aid? Volunteers in the tourism sector lead excursions and tell travelers about environmentally friendly and interesting places. They also teach them about respect for nature and the basics of green tourism. In addition, volunteers in this area help to ensure that the environmental regulations for protected areas remain in place. They ensure that people do not harm wildlife during their visits by providing well-marked trails and equipped lodging.
Monitoring water quality
Water quality monitoring expeditions to wells, boreholes, and other water bodies are arranged by environmental organizations. Volunteers use special equipment to test the water with experts and also assist in the creation of photo and video materials to document the results.
Clean up plastic
Clean-ups and plogging are among the most popular forms of volunteering. Many international NGOs promoting zero-waste lifestyles and analyzing the activities of businesses and large corporations to promote systemic change are also active in this area. In addition, such organizations help to recycle these plastics and secondary raw materials and give them a second life. Most sorting stations employ volunteers as guides to explain the station, the rules, and the stages of sorting.
Combating food waste
The problem of recycling organic waste is growing daily in many countries around the world. NGOs are helping to feed people in need by conserving food resources and reducing organic waste. How does it work? Supermarkets and restaurants donate food that is about to go out of date to volunteers who then distribute it to people who are in difficult circumstances. In this way, they not only help fight hunger but also reduce waste.
Restoring green spaces
Planting trees, shrubs, and other plants in parks, forests, and nature preserves helps unite the community, learn to work together, and change the region for the better. Environmental organizations, government agencies, businesses, and nature preserve managers organize plant restoration projects. Such initiatives unite city residents so that everyone can plant trees, flowers, or other plants and share their accomplishments with the world. People will take care of such plantings because they usually value their work. Such events and marathons will contribute to the improvement of the image of the city and its environmental situation.