Volunteer for Nature 2022

Project goals

Project summary

In 2022, four young people from France, Georgia, Poland and Russia joined Biom for a 10-month European Solidarity Corps volunteering. As a part of the project Volunteer for Nature 2022, they contributed to a wide range of tasks that combined direct conservation work, public outreach, and personal development – carried out across various locations in Croatia, including Lastovo Islands Nature Park, island of Cres, Dinara Mountain, and the city of Zagreb.

One of the key areas of engagement was field research and the implementation of conservation measures. The volunteers were assisting with field studies of birds, including endangered species, following scientific methodologies in protected areas of Croatia.They contributed to monitoring of sea birds and removal of invasive species on Lastovo Islands. They supported nature conservation efforts by handling scientific data, such as sound and camera trap data analysis, contributing to the development of research-based solutions. Activities also included restoration of ponds and dry stone walls on Dinara and restoration of overgrown grasslands on Učka. As part of their experience at the Ornithological Camp Učka, volunteers had the opportunity to learn about small migratory bird ringing. They spent their summer months in Beli Visitor Centre and Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures, where they engaged in Griffon Vulture rescue and rehabilitation operations, which are crucial for preserving the last remaining Griffon Vulture colony in Croatia. During the project, the volunteers had the opportunity to learn about the state of different nature components and ways of preserving biodiversity all around the country.

Another important focus of the project was education and public outreach. This consisted of creating, assisting and delivering educational content and popularisation of nature conservation. The volunteers took part in a series of public engagement, awareness raising, non-formal education, and community building events. They helped coordinate events hosted by Biom or organised their own events such as interactive games or workshops for children, youth and the general public. In the office they worked on the production of digital promotional and non-formal educational materials for Biom’s website and social media. During such activities, the volunteers researched current environmental and biodiversity topics. Examples of such materials include an animation video about their ESC experience in Biom, a blog about the volunteers’ journey.

Throughout the project, volunteers were also given the opportunity to grow personally and professionally through structured and informal learning.They engaged in a wide range of tasks in different locations, acquiring knowledge about scientific methodology, doing activities that contribute to nature conservation, while improving their environmental knowledge and ability to share the messages of biodiversity challenges. The volunteers also had the opportunity to attend Croatian language lessons as well as soft-skills development sessions which focused on skills like team work, adaptability, communication and problem solving. These sessions, along with the overall volunteer experience – both in the field and in the office – aimed to gently strengthen the volunteers’ sense of initiative and inspire them to take action for positive change in the future.

Materials and publications

View

• Volunteers’ ESC blog / volonterski ESS blog
• Animated video about volunteers’ ESC experience in Biom / Animirani video o volonterskom ESS iskustvu u Biomu

Watch our short video:

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