The impact of environmental volunteering on nature conservation: The case of Iceland Conservation Volunteers.

The existing literature has emphasized why individuals choose to volunteer, while the impacts of environmental volunteering on conservation remain underexplored. This study aims to shed light on the perceived impacts that the Icelandic Conservation Volunteers (ICV) program has on the environment. The research questions aim to find out the governance system of ICV, to what degree volunteers consider their work to make an impact, and what is the perceived impact on conservation of the program according to the managers and rangers. Post-program surveys from ICV participants were analyzed to capture volunteers’ perspectives. Managers of ICV and park managers where the work was conducted were interviewed through a combination of quantitative and qualitative questions. The interviewed managers have extensive experience working with ICV volunteers and are well acquainted with the program. With the results of the surveys, a SWOT analysis was made. The findings show that the ICV program operates within a hybrid governance model in which the Nature and Conservation Agency provide main direction, while day-to-day management is shared among staff, rangers, and volunteer teams. This structure balances centralized oversight with participatory involvement, enabling both organizational stability and meaningful volunteer engagement. Volunteer responses reflected a strong perception of impact, with an average approval score of 78% across years. Protected area managers and rangers also reported highly positive perceptions of the program, with approval levels of 96% for overall contribution and 94% for long-term impact. They emphasized that volunteer labor fills critical capacity gaps and enables essential conservation tasks that would otherwise remain unaddressed. The results of this study suggest that the ICV program has a positive impact on nature conservation, contributing both to physical conservation outcomes and to strengthened governance and environmental awareness. While challenges remain, particularly funding, staffing, and logistical constraints, the program’s benefits outweigh its limitations

Author dc:creator

• Sebastian Diaz Duran 1994-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskóli Íslands

• Umhverfis- og auðlindafræði
• Sjálfboðastörf
• Umhverfismál
• Umhverfisvernd
• Ísland

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1946/52068

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/52068