8/14/2019 Volunteers in conservation Presentation to Society of Conservation Biology 2009

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Conservation volunteers: Conservation volunteers: can anyone make a difference?can anyone make a difference?Diogo Veríssimo*, David Jones & Rebeca Chaverri

Playa Norte Marine Turtle Monitoring and Conservation Programme

8/14/2019 Volunteers in conservation Presentation to Society of Conservation Biology 2009

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Introduction

• Field research constraints: • High costs / Low budgets• Qualified / Large workforce

• The role of  volunteers in conservation• On Playa Norte paying volunteers sustain more than 90% of  project running costs  –Equipment, staff  wages, food, lodging

8/14/2019 Volunteers in conservation Presentation to Society of Conservation Biology 2009

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Volunteer profile• Around 220 volunteers, since 2006• 70% of  volunteers are female

• Age range 18 to 55 years; 73% up to 25 years• 20 nationalities; 90% from EU, USA and Canada• Two thirds have no natural sciences background

8/14/2019 Volunteers in conservation Presentation to Society of Conservation Biology 2009

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Nest poaching 

8/14/2019 Volunteers in conservation Presentation to Society of Conservation Biology 2009

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8/14/2019 Volunteers in conservation Presentation to Society of Conservation Biology 2009

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Human pressures around Playa Norte

8/14/2019 Volunteers in conservation Presentation to Society of Conservation Biology 2009

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Paying volunteers  can provide Paying volunteers  can provide critical human and financial critical human and financial resources for biodiversity resources for biodiversity conservation in developing conservation in developing 

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8/14/2019 Volunteers in conservation Presentation to Society of Conservation Biology 2009

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Thanks

Thanks

Project partner  With financial support from 

With institutional support from 

Volunteers and staff