Volunteering in Croatia

by Naomi Cresswell

My conservation journey started in university when I majored in Environmental and Geographical sciences and Sociology. A main focus in my research and work since has been on community based conservation projects, the human/ nature relationship and connection is one that is in all of us. 

Pasadur bay

After a few years of working in South Africa, I wanted to expand my horizons and gain knowledge and experience from different areas of the world. This started my adventure to Croatia, and its most remote inhabited island. 

At first sight, the island is a magical land of forests and crystal clear waters. A designated nature park, it is a unique example of a community co existing in and with their protected environment. My WWF volunteer experience is focused on communication, working closely with the Nature Park. My first three months will be spent working with the Nature Park on Lastovo Island, Croatia’s youngest nature park. 

In my first month, we ran a number of workshops to focus on education, community projects, environment awareness, beach clean ups and alternative energy sources in the hopes to create a more sustainable island. What the island is facing now, is a challenge to create a community based conservation model with local participation. 

This year a new project has kicked off using the SMILO model with the aim to encourage a sustainable island. SMILO is a cooperation program that aims to support small islands towards sustainable management. The objective is to focus on issues of waste management, the protection of water resources, renewable energy resources, as well as biodiversity preservation and natural and cultural heritage enhancement. A priority to get this off the ground is to take a community-based approach, the first step being an island committee. 

The main challenge in the implementation of this project has been getting locals involved in the island committee. Monthly community meetings are now in the works, along with monthly newsletters and brochures.  A key challenge on the island so far has been to build a relationship of trust and open communication between the Nature Park and local community members. 

We are hoping that the implementation of monthly newsletters and brochures will help bridge this gap between the Nature Park and community, and encourage them to participate in workshops and activities. 

The island has been of a particular interest as I have always had a fascination on the human/ nature connections. My research and work thus far has been focused on the inclusion of community’s into conservation practices, making this volunteer experience both challenging and rewarding. The idea that a protected area needs to be separated or fenced off from any human activity is challenged by this little island as its community truly exists within its protected nature every day. As one islander said “Lastovo isn’t only a Nature Park, we are. We have to live it. We have to breath it and be it”.