This spreadsheet is the underlying data for the biodiversity indicator A2, Taking action for nature: volunteer time spent in conservation.
The amount of time people spend volunteering to assist in conservation in part reflects society's interest in and commitment to biodiversity. The work undertaken by conservation volunteers includes: assisting with countryside management, carrying out surveys and inputting data, assisting with administrative tasks, and fundraising.
Volunteer time is one way of assessing the level of public engagement with biodiversity. Volunteering for conservation charities is critical to the successful delivery of many of the objectives of the country biodiversity and environment strategies - for example, volunteers collect much of the data used for monitoring the status of species and also undertake practical work to manage threatened habitats.
The indicator presents an index of the number of hours worked by volunteers for 13 UK conservation charities and public bodies Conservation volunteering includes any voluntary activity for an organisation or community undertaken to: further the understanding, protection or enjoyment of the natural environment, including wildlife recording and surveying; practical countryside management; providing education, training and guided walks; and administration or other office support.
This is one of a suite of 24 UK biodiversity indicators published by JNCC on behalf of Defra; the latest publication date was 19 January 2016 - for indicator A2 the latest data are for 2014.