Wildlife & Conservation Volunteering

CONTENTSAcknowledgements viIntroduction viiHow to use this book viiiThe Audit Criteria ixChapter 1 Conservation: what are the issues? 1The looming crisis 1Conservation volunteering: what's it all about? 2Issues of concern 3Measuring the difference 5The conservation volunteer effect 6Why pay? 6Chapter 2 Types of volunteer organisations 7Conservation opportunities 7Characteristics of different organisations 7Subtle differences between companies 10Effects on the fees 12Terms and conditions disclaimers 12Chapter 3 Choosing an organisation 17Deciding on your purpose 17Choosing via country 21Choosing via species 21Choosing via cost 29Arranging your own placement 33What will it cost? 34Chapter 4 The audit 41Chapter 5 What is life like as a conservation volunteer? 166Protecting loggerhead turtles in Greece with Archelon 167Straw-bale house building with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers 169Marine conservation in Seychelles with Global Vision International 171Monitoring leopard, cheetah and their prey in Namibia with Biosphere Expeditions 173Amazon wildlife conservation by riverboat with Earthwatch Institute 176Eco-technology and conservation in rural India with Raleigh International 179Chapter 6 Great migrations 182Brent goose 183Caribou and reindeer 184Atlantic horseshoe crab 186Monarch butterflies 187Emperor penguin 188Red crabs 190Sockeye salmon 191Turtles 193Whales 194Wildebeest 196Chapter 7 Fundraising 199Planning 199Dos and don'ts of fundraising 200Charitable trusts 200Getting publicity in your local media 201Specimen letter content 202Promotional leaflets 203Fundraising events 204Legal issues 205Chapter 8 Before you go 207Booking flights 207Red tape 209Travel insurance 211Health 214Safety 220What to take 221Money 222Cultural etiquette 223Keeping in touch with home 224If things go wrong 225Appendix 1 Country guide 229Appendix 2 Further information 249Appendix 3 What is BS8848:2007+A1:2009? 253Index 254