Examining Volunteer Motivations and Recruitment Strategies For Engagement in Urban Forestry
Few studies in urban forestry have examined the motivations of urban forestry volunteers. In this research, two social psychological theories (Volunteer Functions Inventory and Volunteer Process Model) are utilized to examine motivations for participating in tree planting activities. The Volunteer F...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Loyola Marymount University
2010-01-01
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| Series: | Cities and the Environment |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol3/iss1/9/ |
| _version_ | 1811308676655349760 |
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| author | Christine Moskell Shorna Broussard Allred Gretchen Ferenz |
| author_facet | Christine Moskell Shorna Broussard Allred Gretchen Ferenz |
| author_sort | Christine Moskell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Few studies in urban forestry have examined the motivations of urban forestry volunteers. In this research, two social psychological theories (Volunteer Functions Inventory and Volunteer Process Model) are utilized to examine motivations for participating in tree planting activities. The Volunteer Functions Inventory can be used to examine the needs, goals and motivations that individuals seek to fulfill through volunteerism. The Volunteer Process Model sheds light on the antecedents, experiences and consequences of volunteerism at multiple levels (individual, interpersonal, organizational, societal). An understanding of volunteer motivations can aid practitioners in the development and implementation of participatory urban forestry programs that are attractive to stakeholders. We conducted a survey of volunteers who participated in a MillionTreesNYC volunteer planting event and a focus group of urban forestry practitioners. Survey results reveal that volunteers have varied motivations and a limited knowledge of the community level impacts of trees. Results from the focus group reveal that providing education about the benefits of trees and maintaining long-term communication with volunteers are frequently used strategies for engagement. However, the public’s lack of knowledge about urban forestry and an inability to connect to audiences are practitioner-identified challenges for recruiting stakeholders to participate in their programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:27:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-34ea8633021346309958391c9cd2d7f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-7048 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:27:31Z |
| publishDate | 2010-01-01 |
| publisher | Loyola Marymount University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cities and the Environment |
| spelling | doaj.art-34ea8633021346309958391c9cd2d7f22022-12-22T02:52:22ZengLoyola Marymount UniversityCities and the Environment1932-70482010-01-0131Article 928 ppExamining Volunteer Motivations and Recruitment Strategies For Engagement in Urban ForestryChristine MoskellShorna Broussard AllredGretchen FerenzFew studies in urban forestry have examined the motivations of urban forestry volunteers. In this research, two social psychological theories (Volunteer Functions Inventory and Volunteer Process Model) are utilized to examine motivations for participating in tree planting activities. The Volunteer Functions Inventory can be used to examine the needs, goals and motivations that individuals seek to fulfill through volunteerism. The Volunteer Process Model sheds light on the antecedents, experiences and consequences of volunteerism at multiple levels (individual, interpersonal, organizational, societal). An understanding of volunteer motivations can aid practitioners in the development and implementation of participatory urban forestry programs that are attractive to stakeholders. We conducted a survey of volunteers who participated in a MillionTreesNYC volunteer planting event and a focus group of urban forestry practitioners. Survey results reveal that volunteers have varied motivations and a limited knowledge of the community level impacts of trees. Results from the focus group reveal that providing education about the benefits of trees and maintaining long-term communication with volunteers are frequently used strategies for engagement. However, the public’s lack of knowledge about urban forestry and an inability to connect to audiences are practitioner-identified challenges for recruiting stakeholders to participate in their programs.http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol3/iss1/9/Urban forestrystakeholder engagementvolunteerism |
| spellingShingle | Christine Moskell Shorna Broussard Allred Gretchen Ferenz Examining Volunteer Motivations and Recruitment Strategies For Engagement in Urban Forestry Cities and the Environment Urban forestry stakeholder engagement volunteerism |
| title | Examining Volunteer Motivations and Recruitment Strategies For Engagement in Urban Forestry |
| title_full | Examining Volunteer Motivations and Recruitment Strategies For Engagement in Urban Forestry |
| title_fullStr | Examining Volunteer Motivations and Recruitment Strategies For Engagement in Urban Forestry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining Volunteer Motivations and Recruitment Strategies For Engagement in Urban Forestry |
| title_short | Examining Volunteer Motivations and Recruitment Strategies For Engagement in Urban Forestry |
| title_sort | examining volunteer motivations and recruitment strategies for engagement in urban forestry |
| topic | Urban forestry stakeholder engagement volunteerism |
| url | http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol3/iss1/9/ |
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