Join local efforts for preserving plants and animals
Get involved locally by volunteering with your community or advocating for protections of your local native wildlife.
What better way is there to take action then by getting outdoors and working with others to help clean up, preserve and protect the wildlife, plants and natural places of your local area.
Below are some suggested ways of getting involved locally by volunteering with your community or advocating for protections of your local native wildlife.
Here are some places to start:
International
We suggest doing some research to find existing programs or local groups in your area to join and volunteer with. If you can’t find a local group or restoration project that you’d like to join, or have another idea for a project that you’d like to start - check out the “Community Organiser’s Toolkit on Ecosystem Restoration” toolkit below.
The International Union for the Conservancy of Nature (IUCN)
IUCN has put together the “Community Organizer’s Toolkit on Ecosystem Restoration” to equip people with the tools, knowledge and resources necessary to help restore ecosystems back to productive and healthy spaces. By the end of this toolkit, you'll be ready to take action and restore your local ecosystem.
- Explore the toolkit - this toolkit is for everyone. Whatever your needs or obstacles may be, where you are in your restoration journey, or what your ultimate goals are, this toolkit will help you take action.
Australia (General public)
Find and protect threatened species closest to you
Conservation scientists and interaction designers have launched a web-based app that they hope will put Australia's "threatened species crisis" at the top of the election agenda.
- Enter your postcode into the Threatened website to find out about the threatened species in your electorate and take action to help them.
Become a Citizen Scientist with Birdlife
BirdLife Australia is proud to be the nation's largest bird conservation organisation.
- Join a community of dedicated volunteers that help monitor and collect important data on Australia’s birds.
- Register your interest to be a Birdlife volunteer
Volunteer on conservation and restoration projects
- Conservation Volunteers Australia is a national organisation working with communities to re-balance nature for a stronger, more resilient future. Explore and register for volunteer opportunities today.
Join or start a local Landcare group
Landcare is a grassroots movement dedicated to managing environmental issues in local communities across Australia from coast to country.
- Find or start a Landcare group.
- Find or start a Junior Landcare group.
Volunteer with National Parks and Wildlife Services
Volunteer or Friends Groups are formed by community members who want to volunteer their time to work together to conserve and protect a specific bushland reserve, historical feature, roadside verge or waterway. They are typically managed by the local council or Shire or National Parks and Wildlife Services. Council can assist with training, provision of plants and seeds, tools and equipment.
- (VIC) Parks Victoria - explore a number of volunteer programs to assist in the conservation of a particular reserve or species of flora and fauna. You can also find and volunteer with your local Friends Group.
- (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Service - explore volunteer opportunities.
- (WA) Parks and Wildlife Service - explore volunteer projects including scientific research, community education and maintenance of the State's fauna and flora.
- (TAS) Parks and Wildlife Service - explore volunteer opportunities.
(SA) National Parks and Wildlife Services - find your nearest Friends groups and volunteer opportunities, get involved in Citizen Science or join a volunteer rangers group.
Wildlife Rescue Training and Volunteering
Find your local wildlife rescue organisation, join a training session or learn more about becoming a wildlife rescue volunteer. These organisations are often in need of Wildlife Rescue and Transport volunteers, foster carers and shelters.
Even if you don’t do the training yourself, we suggest saving the contact number of your local wildlife rescue organisation on your phone. This way, if you ever come upon injured or sick wildlife needing assistance, you’ll be ready to call it in.
Here is a list of some organisations to get you started, we suggest also doing your own research for your nearest wildlife rescue organisation.
- Wildlife Victoria and Wildlife Rescuers (VIC)
- WIRES (TAS)
- WIRES (NSW)
- WA Wildlife (WA)
- Volunteer with Wildlife Rescue Queensland (QLD)
- Report sick or injured wildlife (NT)
Australia (corporate)
Clean Up Australia Day
Clean Up Australia inspires and mobilises communities to improve and conserve our environment, eliminate litter, and end waste. Every year they run Clean Up Australia Day which brings communities together at clean up events in their local area. You can register an event through your business on this day, or any day of the year, or you can partner with Clean Up Australia and have them run the day for you.
Bush Heritage Australia
Bush Heritage is a leading not-for-profit conservation organisation that protects ecosystems and wildlife across Australia. Their work involves collaborating with Traditional Owners, best science, and conservation strategies to have a landscape-scale impact. They are always looking to partner with and be supported by corporates who are aligned with their interests.
Earth Watch
Since its founding in 1971, Earthwatch has been taking action to address global change through a time-tested model of citizen science and community engagement. By pairing volunteers from all sectors of society with researchers around the world, Earthwatch teams have helped to safeguard critical habitats, conserve biodiversity, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources. They also work with a wide variety of companies to help them identify and take actions that minimise their impact on the health and sustainability of our natural world.
Greening Australia
Greening Australia is an independent environmental enterprise. They are a national not-for-profit committed to restoring Australia’s diverse landscapes and protecting biodiversity in ways that benefit communities, economies, and nature. Support from businesses across Australia is crucial for building awareness and providing funding for their on-ground work.
Conservation Volunteers Australia
Conservation Volunteers Australia create practical employee engagement opportunities to strengthen community and environmental resilience across the country and enable impact at scale. Their campaigns cover both conservation and restoration and they provide opportunities for staff volunteering throughout the year.
UK
The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. Their purpose is to bring wildlife back and to empower people to take meaningful action for nature.
US
The Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer network conducts beach cleanups throughout the West, East, Gulf, Great Lakes, Hawaiian and Puerto Rican Coasts.
- Join a beach clean up - find a Chapter or a Student Club near you.
Joining local efforts for preserving plants and animals is part of a larger collective response. Learn more and find other actions about protecting plants and animals.
Know of any other resources? Share your ideas.
