NATUREWISE: USING TOURISM AS A CONSERVATION CATALYST Key Words Conservation, Wildlife, Ecotourism, Conservation Volunteers Australia Author Joanne Davies, Conservation Volunteers Australia Abstract This paper explores how Australia s largest conservation volunteering organisation uses tourism as one mechanism to help protect our environment. Conservation Volunteers Australia through its range of programs currently achieves 45,000 annual volunteer days, which is equivalent to over five million dollars worth of conservation work. The 1,200 international volunteers whom annually participate in a conservation holiday experience are one of the major contributors to this output. Whether it be building a 25km fence to help save Bilbies from extinction, assisting researchers to track and monitor endangered Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies or removing litter during a coastal clean up project, these volunteers make a considerable contribution to the enhancement of our natural environment. To expand on the current success of these tourism activities Conservation Volunteers Australia is now developing a series of ecotour programs. The ecotours will provide a unique touring experience, while attracting a greater diversity of people to be involved in meaningful conservation experiences and enhancing the organizations financial capacity to support further conservation activities. The project also provides new opportunities for cooperative ventures with partner organizations such as protected area managers, researchers, conservation groups and private landholders, to achieve wider community participation in hands on conservation work. Introduction Conservation Volunteers is Australia s largest practical conservation organisation and was established in 1982 as the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers. CVA is a not-for-profit and non-political organisation, and currently operates 22 offices throughout each state and territory of Australia and employs over 240 staff nationally. CVA s mission is: To attract and manage a force of volunteers on practical conservation projects for the betterment of the Australian environment. CVA achieves this through a range of programs which involve many sectors of the community. CVA is responsible for national management of the Commonwealth-funded Green Corps program for young Australians aged 17-20. Corps members commit 26 weeks to priority conservation projects. CVA is also the national managing agency for the Green Reserve program, also funded by the Commonwealth, which aims to involve Australians aged between 35 and 65 on local conservation projects. However, CVA s core programs revolve around involving volunteers. Conservation Volunteers Australia has been using conservation holiday experiences as a tool to attract Australian and International Volunteers to achieve conservation outcomes since 1982. Since then, the range of national and international holiday experiences available has continually evolved into an exciting series of packages suited to a diverse range of clients needs. Through these experiences CVA volunteers participate in hands on projects and experience perhaps the purest form of eco tourism - actively restoring the environment they are visiting and enjoying. This year, CVA will complete over 45,000 volunteer days on practical
conservation projects across Australia, contributing labour estimated at over five million dollars to preserving our natural environment. Many of these conservation holiday experiences directly involved volunteers in the protection of wildlife. Whether it be building a 25km fence to help save Bilbies from extinction, assisting researchers to track and monitor endangered Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies or removing litter during a coastal clean up project, these volunteers make a considerable contribution to the protection of our natural environment. This paper will explore how Conservation Volunteers Australia helps to achieve valuable conservation outcomes through the integration of tourism experiences, with hands on participation in conservation activities. Integrating wildlife tourism experience and conservation Conservation Volunteer Australia operates a series of tourism products which offer a range of conservation experiences, many of which directly and indirectly assist wildlife conservation. Conservation Volunteers Australia recognizes that these ecotourism experiences have the capacity to attract a greater number and diversity of volunteers to help with vital conservation projects around Australia, on a regular basis. CVA s tourism activities go beyond just undertaking participatory wildlife monitoring and research projects. They involve people in the equally important aspects of habitat protection, weed removal, revegetation and litter collection, which have a tremendous contribution to the protection of our wildlife. All projects undertaken by CVA, are selected as being suitable for volunteers to complete with appropriate supervision and practical training from CVA staff. The majority of activities are executed in partnership with protected area managers, conservation groups and private landholders to help achieve required conservation outcomes, which could not be done without the assistance of volunteers. The volunteer projects are generated through the following key mechanisms ; - Profits directly contributed towards conservation through CVA conservation holiday experiences. - Financial contributions from landholders and protected area managers for the conservation work undertaken. - CVA working in partnership with corporate sponsor. Key examples include the following. In partnership with BHP Billiton CVA will protect one hundred of Australia s most significant wetlands over the next 3 years as part of a revive our wetlands program. Shell Australia have joined Conservation Volunteers Australia to address the issue of coastal rehabilitation and protection, helping to ensure the sustainable management of Australia's significant coastal assets well into the future. The project will protect one hundred unique coastal areas around Australia. Rio Tinto provide CVA with staff training and development workshops and are funding an international benchmarking program with other conservation groups around the world. - CVA s assistance in the management and restoration of key conservation and heritage sites on behalf of agencies. Selected sites are typically identified as requiring considerable resource assistance to aid conservation management. Who participates in CVA s conservation holidays and why?
Who are the conservation volunteers who join CVA programs? They are people with an interest in getting out there and doing something, making a real difference to the environment. CVA volunteers contribute in a very special way towards the preservation and enhancement of the fragile Australian landscape. Volunteers come together from all walks of life with a shared concern for the environment, and a positive, willing attitude towards its preservation and restoration. They travel from overseas and within Australia to special destinations to lend a hand to the Australian environment. The CVA conservation holidays have over the past 5 years become increasingly popular with international travellers seeking to visit the real Australia. Last year over 1,200 international people travelled to Australia on a CVA conservation experience package. There are different reasons for everyone, but most commonly people volunteer because: they can learn new skills from Conservation Volunteers Australia; they can meet new people with similar interests; they can see the results of their hard work; it s a chance to get to some of the most beautiful areas, sometimes to interact with endangered species or get to remote locations; and they are making a real and lasting difference to conservation through CVA s well-managed projects. What are CVA s conservation holiday experiences? Conservation Volunteers Australia offers three main programs. Each product provides a uniquely different experience to cater for the needs of each identified target market. Product differentiations range from the destinations visited, nature of conservation activities undertaken, style of accommodation used, package inclusions and package duration. The key conservation holiday experiences offered by CVA are: 1. Australian conservation holiday experiences Conservation Experience and National Volunteer Program 2. Overseas conservation holiday experiences World Conservation Program 3. New products Naturewise Ecotours 1. Australian conservation holiday experiences Conservation Experience and National Volunteer Programs make up CVA s Australian based conservation holiday experiences. The two products access the same conservation activities with international and domestic volunteers participating together to help make a difference to Australia s environment. The differentiating featuring of both of these products is the length of time these experiences are packaged for. Conservation Experiences offer holidays over a longer
period of time, while National Volunteer Programs range from daily to weekly experiences. The following table illustrates the key features of these conservation holiday packages.
Table 1: Key features Australian conservation holiday experiences Products Conservation Experience National Volunteer Programs Key features Australian based conservation holidays. Australian based conservation holidays. Packages from 2 to 20 weeks. 1-2 day and 1 week packages. Actively involve people in fun conservation projects great locations. Actively involve people in fun conservation projects in great locations. Volunteers have the satisfaction of knowing projects make a credible and well-managed contribution to the environment. Volunteer experiences vary according to seasonal conditions and conservation priorities. Opportunities to meet new people, share experiences learn new skills. Take place in urban and rural areas around Australia. Volunteer experiences vary according to seasonal conditions and conservation priorities. Volunteers have the satisfaction of knowing projects make a credible and well-managed contribution to the environment. Opportunities to meet new people, share experiences and learn new skills. Take place in urban and rural areas around Australia. Inexpensive travel around Australia. Target market Project examples International visitors, typically 17 25 years of age. Primary markets include UK, Scandinavia, France, Belgium, Japan, Korea Germany and USA. Emerging markets: Italy and Spain. Tree planting Australian residents from 15-70 years of age Tree planting Seed collection Seed collection Erosion and Salinity control Erosion and Salinity control Construction and maintenance of walking tails Construction and maintenance of walking tails Visitor impact surveys Visitor impact surveys Endangered flora and fauna surveys Endangered flora and fauna surveys Weed control Weed control Habitat restoration Habitat restoration Heritage restoration Heritage restoration Cost $23 per day. Typical package promoted: $966 for 6 weeks. Day projects free. Residential projects $23 per day.
Includes All meals Project-related travel Meals, accommodation and project related travel for $23 a day on a residential project. Accommodation Conservation Volunteers Australia membership Nomads Backpacker Adventure discount Card and Travel Guide on 6 week projects Airport meet & greet available for an additional cost Departs Every Friday from CVA offices around Australia Projects available weekly Group sizes 6 10 people 6 10 people
2. Overseas conservation holiday experiences CVA also offers overseas conservation holiday experiences through its World Conservation Programs. Working with key conservation organisations overseas CVA creates opportunities for teams of Australians to experience amazing destinations in countries like California, Montana, Alaska, Mexico, Britain and New Zealand. World Conservation Holiday experiences are typically 4 weeks in duration and are open to Australian residents. Conservation activities are based on proprieties projects required at the time and include revegetation, walking track construction and maintenance and wildlife habitat protection. 3. New Product - Naturewise Naturewise is an exciting new business, currently under development, that will operate a series of ecotours around Australia. The key objectives of this new business are to: 1. Generate regular and dependable profit for reinvestment into CVA programs and operations. 2. Attract and involve new markets in conservation activities. Current opportunities cater well for the 15 28 age bracket. The ecotours business will broaden opportunities for all age groups to be involved in CVA activities. 3. Generate additional volunteers for core conservation volunteer programs. 4. Increase the profile of Conservation Volunteers Australia and its programs. 5. Provide expanded career opportunities for CVA staff. Naturewise will offer a variety of holiday experiences and participation in conservation, ranging from monitoring and research to hands on conservation activities. Many of these will center on wildlife tourism experiences. Three products have been developed to offer 3 distinct experiences catering for each identified target market. These include Naturewise Adventures, Naturewise Journeys and Naturewise Discoveries. Naturewise is currently under development and will commence commercial operation in January 2002. Once fully operational the tours will run across most States and Territories within Australia, throughout the year. This will give the business an economy of scale to run as a fully professional ecotourism business that provides a steady stream of income back to the Conservation Volunteers Australia. Quality standards in operation will be maintained by following recommended best practice standards under programs such as the Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Program (NEAP).
Key outcomes and contributions Conservation Volunteers Australia has found these conservation holiday experiences to be a highly effective way of attracting a diverse range of volunteers and achieving important conservation outcomes. Examples of these major outcomes and contributions include the following. Financial contributions CVA Enterprises, a separate company owned and operated by CVA undertakes commercial activities and donates all profits back to CVA to assist with core conservation projects. The ecotourism programs operated by CVA Enterprises achieve economic sustainability by: Volunteer contributions towards cost items associated with hosting volunteers, such as food, accommodation and transport. These contributions make it more viable to undertake conservation projects. Profit donation from commercial operations. In the year 2000 CVA Enterprises donated $232,500 to Conservation Volunteers Australia, after covering all its expenses. This is a 31% increase on the donation made in 1999. All profits donated by Enterprises assist Conservation Volunteers Australia to achieve vital conservation projects, many of which have aided the conservation of wildlife. Participation rates In the year 2000: 40,000 volunteer days were achieved. This is equivalent to $5 million dollars worth of work. Of this total: - Inbound travelers contributed 50% of these volunteer days. - Domestic travelers contributed 50% by of these volunteer days. Of these domestic travelers 50% of these participated in overnight conservation holiday experiences. 1,200 international visitors participated in a conservation experience and helped make a difference to Australia s environment. Increased demand for conservation holiday experiences. Volunteer experiences have now become so popular that CVA has increased the number of programs on offer to meet demand. Forty Australian volunteers traveled overseas on a Conservation Volunteers Australia World Conservation Program last year. For many of these volunteers the experience was an unforgettable and life changing opportunity. These Australian volunteers return saying that their contributions were invaluable to the host organization. In 2001 additional partner organizations have been established providing further opportunities for people to assist international conservation agencies.
In addition to the practical conservation outcomes these volunteers have achieved, the conservation message has been spread to thousands of people across the globe. People who have participated in a Conservation Experience take home a deeper understanding and appreciation of historical, cultural and environmental elements of places they have visited. Partnerships Conservation Volunteers Australia undertakes over 1000 volunteer programs each year. A major outcome of this has been the increased number and diversity partnerships Conservation Volunteers Australia have developed with government, protected area managers, conservation agencies, communities, tourism agencies, researchers and private landholders, to achieve practical conservation outcomes. As the organisation continues to expand so will the awareness of Conservation Volunteers Australia, and our ability to achieve practical conservation outcomes. CVA is continually looking towards expanding its working relationships with partner organisations to maximize benefits for stakeholders and the environment. The range of programs managed and operated by CVA from ecotours, volunteer holidays to government funded programs, means the organization has the ability to provide assistance for a diverse range of projects, and therefore achieve the greatest possible conservation outcomes. Organizations who have projects or would like assistance with conservation activities, including wildlife, are encouraged to contact CVA to determine how these required outcomes can be achieved. Community contributions Conservation Volunteers Australia now operates 22 offices around Australia and employs over 240 staff. Through all of its activities, including Volunteer holiday experiences, Ecotours, Green Corps, Green Reserve and Corporate sponsored projects the organisation has made considerable contributions to the environment and local communities. Some of these include: The ability to work more effectively and extensively with local communities in regional and rural Australia. Increased consultation on a regional level with local community groups and conservation organizations. Increased diversity of employment opportunities within regional communities. Economic contributions to local communities through the use of local products and services. Ability to achieve a greater number of conservation projects in regional and remote areas around Australia. Making a difference practical conservation outcomes The diversity of programs and opportunities for volunteers, ranging from weekends to weekdays, creates more effective practical conservation outcomes. Over the years these volunteers have made significant contributions to Australia s environment in urban, regional and remote areas. CVA teams have worked on many wildlife projects around Australia. Some brief examples include the following. Bilby project, Carnarvon Queensland
Volunteers in the remote part of Western Queensland assisted the Queensland Environment Department with the development of a captive breeding program for the endangered Bilby. Volunteers from around the world came together for a 1000km journey to the project site at Currawinya National Park. Project activities involved the removal of old fending in the area, conducting site surveys for items of cultural significance, with guidance of indigenous staff, and the building of a 25 kilometers predator free enclosure fence. CVA volunteers have provided vital assistance to help make this project reality.
Western Pebble Mound Mouse, Pilbara, Western Australia CVA volunteers worked alongside Hamersley Iron, CALM and WA postgraduate Zoology students to translocation and research the Western Pebble Mound Mouse. A total of 101 mice were relocated away from a mine site to a number of enclosed purpose built mounds, for social structures rebalance. Here volunteers assisted with important research including size, sex, reproductive status and genetics. Upon release to their new home the Mice were monitored through radio tracking devices and periodic trapping. The program was the largest successful translocation of a native animal and scientifically approved study. Marine Debris Survey Northwest Arnhemland Land, Northern Territory Conservation Volunteers Australia, Worldwide Fund for Nature, Dhimurra Land Management Corporation, Nabalco Mine and the local community joined undertake litter surveys in Northeast Arnhemland, which was funded by the Commonwealths Coastcare Program. The region supports a diversity of marine wildlife, including breeding and feeding areas for rare and endangered species. These values are increasingly threatened by the impact of marine pollution. A team of nine CVA volunteers from Japan, Denmark, Australia, Hawaii and England moved debris from nine Kilometers of Cape Arnhem beach. Detailed data was collated on over 500 fishing nets collected, rubbish categorized and where possible the country of origin identified. The team collected a total of 8,000 items, including 2,148 thongs (mostly left feet), 2,235 plastic goods, and 624 glass items. The project received the 2001 Banksia Award for Coastal and Marine Conservation. Iron Barron Oil Spill, Tasmania In 1995 Conservation Volunteers Australia s volunteers came to the aid during the Iron Barron oil spill of the North Coast of Tasmania. Volunteers played a tremendous role in assisting with the oil spill response including, searching coastlines for oil affected sea, mapping oil effected areas, rebuilding and cleaning penguin pens, washing and during oil affected birds, feeding and data collection. The opportunity to be involved in the evolving process of the oil spill response and wildlife rehabilitation was both an educational and rewarding process. Central Rock-rat rediscovery, Northern Territory While working on the Larapinta Trail construction, one CVA team established a trapping program adjacent to work sites, with guidance from the Parks and Wildlife Commission. The main purpose of this was to help build up fauna records. Using Elliot traps, volunteers set up trap lines each night in a number of habitat areas. Animals were trapped in two different locations, and volunteers photographed them and recorded data before releasing them to avoid disturbing the population. During an identification process the on site CVA s Team Leader searched through various mammal identification books without getting a positive identification. Ranger staff at Ormiston Gorge were the first to suggest the animals could be Central Rock-rats, but this was thought unlikely. The Central Rock-rat was considered one of Australia s rarest rodents. It was first collected in 1894, and had been recorded on only five other occasions. The last confirmed sighting was in 1960, when a female was caught raiding a stockman s supplies, 300km west of Alice Springs probably a particularly endangered individual. A survey in 1990, covering 52,000 square kilometres and involving more than four and a half thousand traps, had yielded no results, however our volunteers had
made a lucky discovery, which was eventually confirmed as being correct. CVA was proud to be involved in rediscovery of the Central Rock-rat. A team of previously unskilled volunteers, given the opportunity and with management from CVA, had made a breakthrough in conservation history. In Victoria volunteers installed a series of nest boxes for the beautiful feather tailed Gliders and had a rare chance to view these animals in close quarters. On French Island in Victoria and on Kangaroo Island in South Australia our teams have helped relocate Koalas to ease population pressures. Additionally on Kangaroo Island volunteers regularly assist researchers at Pelican lagoon with a unique echidna tracking program. There is never a shortage of enthusiastic volunteers willing to pay their way to Kangaroo island, contributing $23 a day towards their food and accommodation, to spend of hours of the day and night tracking echidnas on their mysterious journeys. In Tasmania our volunteer teams have helped created artificial burrows for penguins in the North of the State, saving them from dangerous dashes across a major road. In South Australia and Western Australia Mallee Fowl Survey projects are ideally suited to teams of volunteers where major activities include walking transects and mapping bird activity. Legless Lizard Surveys in Victoria and the ACT have seen many volunteers make light work of labor-intensive surveys, lifting rocks and searching for these elusive creatures. The Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby Surveys, Flinders Ranges South Australia are understandably amongst on of our most popular volunteer activities. Less glamorous, but equally as critical, are the projects CVA undertakes to remove litter, control weeds or restore native vegetation. CVA is able to enthuse volunteers to undertake these important activities by educating them about our environment, and motivating them to make a real difference. The educational aspects of all of our programs contribute enormously to volunteer s ability to form a deeper appreciation and understanding of the critical role they are playing in conservation, and just how much of a difference they are making to our environment and wildlife. Conclusion Conservation Volunteers Australia s key objective is to recruit volunteers to undertake vital conservation projects around Australia. Integrating tourism experiences and conservation is an exciting way CVA achieves its aims and makes a difference to Australia s environment. CVA s tourism projects have made considerable difference to the protection of Australia s wildlife. Thousands of people from all over the world have come together in urban, remote and regional areas of Australia to contribute to species and habitat protection. Watching manta rays dance in crystal blue waters while helping to remove litter on the Remote Islands of Shark Bay or tagging turtles on Bare Sand Island in the Northern Territory is a life changing opportunity. The experience of being so close to nature and knowing you are part of its ongoing protection is an amazing feeling. Whether it is simple data collection or physical participation in conservation activities these conservation holidays have a positive impact on the environment, host community and travellers. They provide opportunities to experience places of conservation value and enhance learning through participation. The opportunity to meet new people, visit exciting places and make a difference sees many of our
volunteers coming back for more. One of our long-standing international participants is a French teacher who, for the past 5 years, has chosen to spend his annually holiday in Australia volunteering on a Conservation Volunteers Australia Conservation Experience. Donna Tidey of Melbourne a recent volunteer on the turtle-monitoring project off Darwin had this to day about here experience. From the moment I stepped off the boat my feet became submerged in the sinking sand, and at that point I knew that the two years that I had waited to participate in this project was going to be well worth it. It is absolutely extraordinary the amount of knowledge that I picked up in two weeks. As for the environment have these activities made a difference? The answer is yes! Thanks to volunteers over the past 10 years 954,000 volunteer days have been achieved, and over 13,254 projects have been completed. CVA has found the integration of tourism, particularly wildlife tourism, and conservation to be an effective way of achieving positive outcomes. CVA s Conservation holiday experiences have: Increased the number and diversity of volunteers involved in conservation programs. Increased the availability of conservation experiences to include mid week and weekend projects, 52 weeks of the year. Created a greater awareness of conservation and protected areas. Provided increased assistance with the preservation and restoration of our environment. The result of CVA s activities and volunteers is a substantial amount of assistance with the preservation, protection and restoration of our environment and wildlife.