Conservation volunteering and its link to nature connection, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours in Australia

Human nature connectedness (HNC), the relationship between humans and non-human nature, can benefit wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). However, research on HNC and PEBs have mostly explored private sphere behaviours, such as consumption choices, while public sphere behaviours, such as volunteering for conservation, remain relatively understudied. In this study we gathered data from 135 conservation volunteers in Australia through an online survey that captured quantitative and qualitative information pertaining to their HNC, wellbeing, PEBs and motivations for volunteering. We found that conservation volunteers have higher HNC, life satisfaction and PEB scores compared to the general population. Positive associations occurred between HNC and PEBs and between HNC and ecocentric worldviews. Qualitative responses showed that multiple wellbeing aspects were both drivers and outcomes of conservation volunteering and that underlying values and volunteering positively influence engagement in PEBs. These findings can support conservation organisations in recruiting and achieving positive outcomes for volunteers and environments.