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How conservation volunteering helps support mental wellbeing

At Conservation Volunteers Australia, we’re partnering with the Bupa Foundation to deliver our Nature Blocks™ initiative. Nature Blocks aim to restore biodiversity in towns and cities across Australia while helping to support and enhance wellbeing. 

To date, over 72,802 people have engaged with Nature Blocks and the vast majority of participants surveyed (97%), experienced improvements in their health and wellbeing. That’s according to CVA’s Our Nature Blocks report. In addition, the Bupa Pulse Check 2024 report shows that people who spend more time outdoors and in nature are more likely to enjoy better quality of life. 

Other research studies around the world have also been finding correlations between conservation volunteering, and being connected with nature – and mental wellbeing. 

In addition to improved mental wellbeing, there are also many other benefits of conservation volunteering, such as enhancing biodiversity. Below we explore how conservation volunteering can boost mental health and other benefits of taking part in our Nature Blocks initiative.

Woman creating a Nature Block, planting in a container.

How conservation volunteering helps support mental wellbeing

Conservation volunteering activities include beach cleanups, wetland weeding and planting, and other types of habitat restoration. At CVA we offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities across Australia, which includes our SeaToSource program where volunteers can take part in beach cleanups, habitat restoration and reducing plastic waste at home. 

In addition, everyone can get involved in conservation volunteering at home by planting a Nature Block – a small area of native biodiversity that acts as a habitat corridor for wildlife and supports and enhances biodiversity.

Conservation volunteering has many social, mental health and environmental benefits. It can support mental health in many ways by:

Various studies on the effect of conservation volunteering on mental health have shown these many benefits. 

One such study from the UK found that half of the conservation volunteers who started with low mental wellbeing felt an improvement after 12 weeks. Participants in this study also found that they felt more positive and healthy after volunteering, and that they had enhanced levels of pro-environmental behaviour. 

These findings may even one day lead to conservation volunteering being prescribed by doctors as a type of therapy. 

CVA’s recently published Our Nature Blocks report also had similar findings. It found that 97% of conservation volunteers who were surveyed showed improved health and wellbeing, as a result of taking part in Conservation Volunteers Australia’s volunteering activities. 

In addition, the Bupa Pulse Check 2024 report finds that people who spend time outdoors and in nature are more likely to have excellent or good overall quality of life. 

The findings of these studies are significant, as they provide an opportunity for people to enhance their mental wellbeing, fitness, and health – all while doing something positive for the environment. 

This link between conservation action, health and wellbeing is part of what inspired our partnership with the Bupa Foundation. Bupa APAC’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Roger Sharp, says that “…we know the link between the health of the planet and the health of people is undeniable and that we all have a role to play in protecting and regenerating nature, particularly in our cities.”

Planting Nature Blocks: an opportunity to support mental wellbeing and biodiversity

Since 2021 we’ve been partnering with the Bupa Foundation to better understand and promote personal health and wellbeing benefits associated with conservation volunteering activities. 

In 2023, we jointly launched Nature Blocks™ to make nature conservation accessible and fun for everyone. We’re now continuing to work together towards a healthier planet and healthier people, and will continue to collect and analyse health and wellbeing data associated with Nature Blocks, to improve the impact they have on health. 

By downloading the CVA app, Australians can create their own Nature Blocks to build back biodiversity around their homes, gardens, communities or on their balconies. 

There are many ways to create a Nature Block. For example, Nature Blocks can be created in pots that attract pollinators, or by building an insect hotel or lizard lounge in your garden.

Nature Blocks help to create vital habitat corridors in cities where 50% of Australia’s threatened fauna species live. In addition, they also help respond positively to the increasing rates of mental illness and feelings of isolation in society. 

By getting involved in Nature Blocks and our community of conservation volunteers, Australians can improve their health and wellbeing, feeling more connected, and having increased motivation to take action for nature. 

In addition, spending time outdoors and in nature is associated with an increased likelihood of having excellent or good overall quality of life, according to the Bupa Pulse Check 2024 report. 

And, at a time when so many young people feel a sense of eco-anxiety about the state of the environment in Australia, and only 1 in 5 Australians feel positive about the current state of the environment — Nature Blocks provides an opportunity for people to be part of a national movement to build back biodiversity.

Final thoughts on Nature Blocks and mental wellbeing

All Australians can take action for nature and join a community of nature stewards by downloading the CVA app and taking part in building Nature Blocks. 

There are an overwhelming number of positive impacts of taking part in building Nature Blocks. Join CVA and the Bupa Foundation in building back nature in cities while you improve your own wellbeing and sense of community. 

Download the CVA app today to get started!

Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice. The content on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.