Our impact on people and nature

Because Conservation Volunteers Australia is serious about improving the world, we measure our impact.

With a 40-year history and goal of building a community of 1 million people, we’re able to use long-term, real-world data to gauge our effectiveness in each of our three impact areas:

1. Healthier environments
2. More active stewardship for nature
3. Increased wellbeing

Recently, CVA developed a custom-built Impact Measurement Framework backed by Accenture to assess our performance, and research supported by Bupa shows there’s already strong evidence that our work really does measure up.

 

Impact area 1: Healthier environments

Our first impact area is all about demonstrating improvements in nature. Just as human health is better when systems are in balance, nature needs its own life-support systems to function properly and thrive. That’s why we support our community to take meaningful actions for nature, such as:

• creating pollinator-friendly spaces wherever they live because pollination is a key ecological process
• removing plastics from the ocean food web, because a clean food web is essential for the health of our marine life
• creating customised habitat elements to replace and supplement those lost in fire, floods, or urban development, because all wildlife needs a home

– and many more.

 

 

Impact area 2: More active stewardship for nature

We aim to build a community of 1 million nature stewards – people who not only care, but who are active in taking care of nature. Every action for nature, no matter how small, can make a local difference and inspire others to do the same.

We count action for nature across our national community of volunteers. Whether they’re actions that contribute to ecological knowledge through citizen science, create more nature-friendly places for wildlife in suburbia, or contribute to restoring important places further afield throughout Australia, it’s exciting to see that people do care, and are putting that caring into practice, every day.

We’ve shown² that people involved in CVA stewardship activities feel more empowered to lead action in their communities (94% of respondents) and build skills to do so (88% of respondents).

 

 

Impact area 3: Increased wellbeing

Research¹ shows 94% of people report a significant increase in their sense of belonging and purpose, as well as increased environmental literacy, skills and capabilities after participating in CVA activities.

Put simply, we have a positive effect on how people feel about themselves. At a time when many people feel disempowered by world crises, knowing we’re helping to build personal resilience – and a strong sense of community – says that what we’re doing has real value.

 

“Spending time with CVA changed almost everything for me. I grew as a person. From being caught in a cycle of depression and anxiety, I was given the space and time to find greater purpose, it gave me back confidence in my abilities in a working environment but also just as a human being and what I can contribute to the lives of others. Working with, and in nature, side by side with beautiful like-minded people helped me to heal and gave me hope for my future.” 

– CVA program participant, 2022

 

 

If you’d like to know more about how and what we’re measuring or would like to help us to amplify our impact, we’d love to hear from you.

^1,2Clear Horizon EMF Workshop Report, August 2022