The voluntary sector and conservation for England: Achievements, expanding roles and uncertain future

The voluntary sector is value driven, issue focussed and considered economically efficient due to volunteer engagement and low administrative overheads in meeting conservation objectives. Independence and flexibility make it an intermediary between stakeholders and government and it is proving an effective vehicle for public engagement. NGOs are emerging as a key player in environmental action, making them a partial replacement for ‘big government action’ and may be heralding a ‘Big Green Society’. The sector ranges in scale from small, local conservation charities to nationally important organisations. This article focuses on functionality because resource issues relate to funding, competences of personnel, continuity of mission and access to expertise, and all are affected during times of austerity. NGOs were largely task-oriented, yet they rapidly developed a campaigning role encapsulating an ever deeper role in both planning and policy formulation. Subsequently, they have developed community inclusion at the core of their function. While the portents remain good, potential problems relate to economic resources, task allocation, impacts on labour markets, interactions with the statutory sector, operational independence and to relations with local democracy. Outlined in this paper are historic functions, operation and development of the sector and perceived issues for the future.

► English conservation voluntarism has a long tradition and is expanding.
► Charities are trusted, non-bureaucratic and effective in achieving goals.
► The sector is expanding from purely action and campaigning into governance.
► Its position in UK political structures, including local accountability, is unclear.
► Gaps in provision, resources and intervention in labour markets remain key issues.