Well-structured volunteer program to boost park management capacity
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Yangmingshan National Park, near Taipei, has a comprehensive volunteer scheme to help manage it. The Volunteer Service Corps has a stringent application process; from the hundreds of applications accepted, only 85 or so pass an oral interview, which is followed by an extensive training and trial period to ensure their suitability. Roles include working as tour guides, at visitor centres or in administrative support as well as conservation-based opportunities.
Last update: 17 Apr 2018
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Impacts
This stringent process attaches a high social status to its membership, which in turn promotes further respect for conservation. Many volunteers have held high-level positions in business, government or education, or from professions such as law or medicine. Volunteers are often highly educated, and Fluency in English or Japanese is common and is useful in assisting foreign visitors.
The Volunteer Service Corps association is separate from political agencies concerned with the park, however, individual volunteers can and do use their influence in their own ways, and since many of them are well-connected, this influence can be considerable