The image of the classic nature volunteer - an older man with binoculars and a passion for nature conservation - no longer seems to hold true. A recent study by Wageningen University & Research shows that Dutch people engage with nature and green spaces much more often and in different ways than previously thought.
Moreover, many do not even see themselves as 'green volunteers', even though they contribute unpaid to nature conservation and quality of life in their surroundings.
Unexpectedly large scope
According to the study, about 34% of the adult Dutch population volunteered for nature and green space in the past year. This amounts to about five million people. Quite a few of them clean up litter, and you can also think of maintaining neighbourhood gardens and green strips, participating in nature counts, taking part in decision-making, or being involved in educational activities, such as giving nature walks and guided tours.
For most people, this involves a few hours a month at most, but when added together, it is a huge commitment. 'Volunteers are invaluable,' says research leader Thomas Mattijssen. 'They not only complement professional work, but also provide more variety in the management of nature and green spaces.'
Barriers and opportunities
Although many people contribute, there is still a large group of people who do not participate. Within this group, over 50% say they are not interested, often due to lack of time or for health reasons. If it was flexible and could take place close to home, there is quite a large group that might want to become active. So there are still opportunities here to involve more people.
Diversity of volunteers
The stereotypical image of the senior volunteer is no longer true. Volunteers come from all age groups and have diverse backgrounds. Women are more likely to be active individually, while men are more likely to work within organisations. There are also many citizen scientists, volunteers engaged in scientific projects, such as counting birds, insects or plants for national surveys. They often do this through apps or platforms, think of the app/site observation.org.
Three main groups stand out:
- Individual volunteers (22%*) - People who contribute independently, for example by picking up litter in public spaces.
- Organisational volunteers (4%*) - Volunteers who work with professional organisations.
- Initiative volunteers (8%*) - Those active in neighbourhood or civic initiatives without professional help.
*of Dutch adults
Initiative volunteers tend to be involved socially in urban areas, while organisation volunteers stay active the longest and spend the most time on their activities.
Motivation: more than just nature
Volunteers are not only driven by a love of nature. They also often enjoy doing activities, like being outdoors, want to contribute to their neighbourhood and like to stay physically active. Ecological reasons are important, but social and personal motivations also play a role. Volunteering has a big/strong impact on neighbourhood liveability and sense of community.
Significance for policy
The study shows that green volunteering not only supports nature goals, but also contributes to social cohesion. This is a valuable complement to government and organisational efforts. To maintain and strengthen this commitment, researchers argue that volunteer involvement should be stimulated and supported that and long-term monitoring is needed to respond to volunteers' needs and motivations.
This study was commissioned by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) to understand citizens' involvement in nature and green space, with the aim of supporting policy and long-term monitoring around nature conservation.
Green volunteers not only make the Netherlands greener, but also more liveable. And that is something we all benefit from.
