Product Description

The climate is changing, the forests are vanishing, and the Yangtze river dolphin is no more. With increasing numbers of us eager to do something to save the planet, the conservation volunteering market is booming. But how does one choose between the thousands of volunteer projects on offer? Bradt's Wildlife and Conservation Volunteering is the first book to dissect properly this exploding industry, and to assess which are the most environmentally and scientifically useful companies on the market. It features different types of 'sending agencies' including charities, not-for-profit, brokers, clearing houses, eco-tour operators and travel agents, and asks, 'Where does the money go and which are the most effective projects?' With a focus on wildlife and environmental conservation volunteering, it includes chapters on conservation and environmental issues, planning and preparation, fund-raising, and features project insights and experiences of volunteers during their travels. There's also a unique chapter of feature stories about the author s experiences on a range of conservation volunteer projects, from shoestring projects costing £150 for six weeks to luxury Amazon riverboat expeditions costing £2,000 for two weeks. Whether you're a cash-rich time-poor professional searching for a meaningful holiday, a retiree wanting your travels to have a purpose, or a gap-year student looking for a wider life experience, this ground-breaking guide written by an author with first-hand experience of conservation volunteering in the UK, Europe, Africa, Seychelles and South America will help you find a genuine and meaningful eco-friendly, conservation-focused experience.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101292 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Review
'This timely and important guide is a must-read for anyone who wants to contribute properly and positively to wildlife conservation.' --Kate Humble, TV presenter

'A comprehensive guide which helps to identify and explore the issues surrounding volunteering, whilst also providing a reliable and objective assessment of the companies offering volunteering experiences.' --Justin Francis, founder, resonsibletravel.com

'An extremely useful starting point for any conservation volunteer faced with the tricky task of finding a project that is appropriate for them and also genuinely contributes to wildlife and environmental conservation.' --Richard Hammond, greentraveller.co.uk

Customer Reviews

Very informative
I had an idea about doing some conservation work before i left for Africa, but it was just that - an idea. Luckily my parents bought me this book for my birthday and what a present it was, it allowed me to turn my ideas into a reality. Without this i wouldn't have known where to start and would have been pretty lost once i did! If you are even considering a trip of this nature, i strongly recommend reading this so you get a real feel for what is involved.

Tip-top
A sound, well researched and dependable guide.

Rather than just suggesting bars, nightclubs and signseeing destinations like other guidebook series, this Bradt guide gives a good account of what can be done to actually use your time constructively in west Africa.

Home to some of the most stunning flora and fauna in the world, West Africa cannot be missed of any African travel itinerary.

Conservation Volunteering
Wildlife and Conservation Volunteering: The Complete Guide (Bradt Travel Guide) (Bradt Travel Guides)

All the conservation volunteering companies look the same from their websites & this book was perfect for identifying what the key issues are and was a great help in selecting the right project for my grandson who is off travelling around South America.