Voluntary nature conservation against the backdrop of social change

Civic engagement plays a central role in nature conservation in Germany. However, patterns of volunteering are undergoing significant change. Alongside traditional association-based structures, more flexible, project-oriented, and digital forms of engagement are gaining increasing relevance. These developments create new opportunities to involve a broader range of social groups. At the same time, they pose challenges for organisations, which must adapt their structures and strategies to evolving life circumstances and participation patterns.

Volunteering receives considerable attention in both public discourse and political agendas, although the primary focus tends to lie on sectors such as sports, emergency services, care work, or political participation. In the field of nature conservation, the question arises under which conditions voluntary engagement can be strengthened in a targeted manner and how previously underrepresented groups can be more effectively reached. Against the backdrop of social transformation, growing societal diversity, and persistent structural barriers, the promotion of voluntary engagement in nature conservation represents a complex yet increasingly important task.

In this research project, UfU is collaborating with the Öko-Institut, Verian, and Nationale Naturlandschaften e.V. to examine how voluntary engagement in nature conservation can be strengthened and sustained amid ongoing social change. The project aims to identify who participates, what barriers exist, and which strategies are most effective in recruiting volunteers and ensuring their long-term retention. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as transdisciplinary approaches, is employed, integrating scientific insights with the experiential knowledge of volunteers, organisations, and expert institutions. Based on these findings, practical recommendations are developed to foster social participation and support the implementation of the National Strategy on Biological Diversity 2030.