Working for Nature - Nature for Working
The first free service for nature conservation internships in Europe's protected areas
Young people from all over Europe contact the EUROPARC headquarters regularly in search of internships in European protected areas, which is why we decided to develop the project Working for Nature - Nature for Working (WfN). The project was initiated at the beginning of 2007 and is funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DE).
Objective
The project's aim is to support young people with an interest in nature conservation and protected area management, thereby providing additional staff for protected area administrations. In the long-term, the EUROPARC Federation seeks to contribute to an improvement in the quantity and quality of internships on offer within the field of nature conservation and protected area management in Europe.
Approach
The website www.workingfornature.org was launched to enhance the exchange of information between individuals searching for internships and protected areas and/or other organisations or institutions in the field of nature protection that offer internships or volunteer opportunities. Organisations wishing to advertise a placement register on the site and enter their vacancies into a data base. Individuals looking for a placement can choose one and apply directly using an online application form. All European protected areas as well as other organisations or institutions in the field of nature conservation, are encouraged to advertise their internships on the website.
Furthermore, for the first working year of the project, EUROPARC organised and coordinated 12 pilot internships at 12 of its member parks in different European countries. During their internship, these motivated young conservationists supported the park in its daily activities and/or in a project. They also helped promote the project WfN in the host country.
Current Status
The project was concluded in 2008 but the internet portal for placements in the field of nature protection www.workingfornature is still up and running. We encourage all organisations working in the field of nature protection to upload their placements online and all individuals who are interested in participating in such a placement to upload their CV's. This is an easy process and instructions are given on the website.
Please contact us at office@europarc.org for more information.
Gallery
