5 Environmental Protection Organizations and How You Can Help

As awareness of environmental issues continues to rise, more and more people are actively seeking ways they can make a difference and help protect the environment. When looking to become involved, volunteering at an environmental protection organization like Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Earthwatch Institute, the World Wildlife Fund and even the National Park Service can provide a way for individuals to truly make a difference. These organizations have different approaches and each can offer different opportunities and experiences for volunteers.

Greenpeace

Greenpeace seeks to actively protect the environment. Greenpeace is a neutral environmental protection organization and does not accept government or political funds in any form. They also carefully screen all large donations to ensure they do not accept any funds from environmentally hostile corporations. They focus on global issues such as deforestation, commercial whaling and overfishing, global warming and anti-nuclear programs.

Greenpeace offers a vast array of volunteer opportunities for individuals who wish to aid in protecting the environment. Volunteers can get physically involved or can show their support by participating in email or letter writing campaigns.

More information about Greenpeace can be found at http://greenpeace.org.

The Sierra Club

One of the oldest environmental organizations, the Sierra Club has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. This noteworthy environmental protection organization was founded by John Muir, who is famous for his conservationist work. Chapters often address local issues, but they also campaign together for national policy changes and the protection of wild lands. One of the biggest successes of the Sierra Club was the passing of the Wilderness Act, which provides federal protection for wilderness areas.

The Sierra Club offers both social and volunteer activities that include hikes, field workdays and other active outings.

Sierra Club information can be found at http://sierraclub.org.

The World Wildlife Foundation

Well-known for its famous symbol featuring a giant panda, the World Wide Fund focuses on both the environment and protecting animals. The WWF is the largest environmental protection organization in the world and has over five million members in over 100 countries. The official mission of the organization is “to halt and reverse the destruction of our environment.”

The WWF focuses on restoring key animal species and habitats in different regions around the world. They work with a large range of different organizations to protect endangered animals and reduce the impact of human civilization on the environment.

Information regarding the WWF can be found at http://www.worldwildlife.org.

The Earthwatch Institute

The Earthwatch Institute is a strong promoter of ecotourism. Ecotourism allows volunteers to get directly involved in research and scientific expeditions that are focused on environmental issues. Volunteers pay a fee to join the expeditions, and the fees are used to fund the projects.

Volunteers join teams working in the field and directly contribute manpower to research projects. The teams are located throughout the world, and volunteers get to spend time on projects that include studying dolphins in Greece, surveying reefs in the Bahamas and assisting in archeological digs.

Earthwatch program information can be found at http://www.earthwatch.org.

The National Park Service

A slightly different way to make an environmental difference is by volunteering directly at the National Park Service. The National Park Service is dedicated to protecting and maintaining National Parks. They are responsible for over 84.4 million acres of protected forests, wilderness areas and national monuments across the United States.

Volunteers fill positions that encompass a wide variety of activities ranging from preforming trail maintenance to educating park visitors. By providing stewardship to natural treasures like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Park, the NPS allows ordinary people to connect with the wonders of nature. This valuable connection often sparks the desire for people to join environmental causes and to take action that will protect wild places and forests.

NPS volunteer information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/index.htm.

While each of these organizations is unique and offers a different volunteer experience, they all share the common goal of helping the environment. Environmental issues are an important concern, and getting involved in these causes allows individuals to truly make a difference.