22 May 2008

Bonn, Germany: Volunteerism is critical in responding to environmental and sustainable development challenges such as the preservation of biological diversity. Maintaining the diversity of nature is going to require the dedication of us all.

"We must recognize all those people who are already active in environmental protection and presentation," said UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity. "How can we do that? We can do that by creating structures and support mechanisms for volunteerism to flourish; and by supporting a movement for change in protecting the planet and respecting its diversity, in all of its details."

"Historically," adds Ms. Pansieri, "the strength of the environmental movement has been the great contribution of volunteers. The environment is both global and local, and volunteers make contributions at both levels. But in the end, what is essential is that people take care of their surroundings in their communities through voluntary action."

This is where UNV's strengths lie. Volunteers often work at a local level, the level where people interact most directly with their environment and where traditional knowledge resides. Though only a relatively small percentage of the 7,500 volunteers UNV fields annually work directly on the environment, they can help people build the expertise to preserve biological diversity at this local level.

The list of ways volunteerism can make a difference is long. Examples are the steady monitoring of species in parks and reserves, something that perhaps only local volunteers can do. There is a great need for volunteers to provide government and scientific researchers with data and monitor change: change in weather patterns, change in the biodiversity of coral reef systems, and so on.

On International Volunteer Day 2007, United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon also made a point on the role of volunteers and the environment. "We need people everywhere to volunteer for this challenge, and to help communities mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change," he said. "Volunteerism is a fundamental source of community strength, resilience, solidarity and social cohesion. It can help effect positive social change by fostering inclusive societies that respect diversity, equality and the participation of all."

"Respecting diversity is a key concept because it can occur in multiple ways, whether it means respecting the cultural diversity of humanity or humanity respecting the diversity of nature," says Marco van der Ree, Environment focal point for UNV.

"Through applying the concept of Volunteerism for Development - which incorporates sustainable human development - UNV also supports communities in protecting their environment and biodiversity as well as sustainable use strategies. Strengthening volunteerism for the environment is a growth area."
 
Some examples of UNV's work on the environment:

Tonle Sap, Cambodia

UNV volunteers provided training and mobilized community volunteers living around the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, promoting biodiversity, reinforcing local ownership and supporting linkages with environmental organizations. UNV oversaw the formation of 20 self-help groups with the participation of 528 families.

Some 90 percent of the participants were women, and the projects improved their capacity to provide for their families. UNV volunteers provided training and technical inputs for mushroom and aquatic vegetable growing, fish farming, fuel-efficient fish smoking, eco-tourism, as well as the production of biomass briquettes, thereby reducing threats to the unique lake ecosystem.

Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNV joined the government, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a local volunteer association, and local people to develop an environmental project in the Lubumbashi district targeting some 20,000 inhabitants.

Through mobilizing volunteers – mostly women – communities were sensitized to good environmental management; community leaders, teachers and inhabitants were trained in environmental protection; environmental management was integrated into school curricula; and 45 square kilometres of commonly managed land was rehabilitated.