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Volunteer for wildlife

Live your passion for nature, animals and biodiversity: volunteer for Lipu and the European Solidarity Corps. Environmental volunteering can be a wonderful experience. Volunteering for nature you can practice your great passion for the environment, contributing to an important project of the European Union defending the most beautiful and precious places of our country

You will have the chanche to collaborate with one of the most important Italian environmental NGO and work alongside scientists, professionals and volunteers like you. You will make new experiences that will enrich your curriculum and, in the future, could become new job opportunities.
Send your application now

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Protect

Help us to defend 12 species of birds that are fundamental for the survival of Italian biodiversity.

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Learn

Working with scientists and professionals to learn and share new knowledge.

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Take part

Contributing spread environmental culture on local communities and stakeholders.

Dove puoi fare volontariato
ambientale con la Lipu

Possono partecipare al progetto Choose Nature tutti i ragazzi dai 18 ai 30 anni che vivono in queste aree geografiche. I volontari del progetto Choose Nature sono presenti in 11 regioni italiane. Avranno il compito di promuovere la cultura ecologica e proteggere alcune delle specie più importanti per la biodiversità del nostro Paese (come la Cicogna, l’Aquila reale, il Fratino, il Lanario, il Grillaio).

Veneto
  • Venezia
Sicilia

Marche

Lombardia
  • Cesano Maderno, Cerro al Lambro, Salerano, Landriano, Magenta

Toscana

Lazio

Basilicata
Calabria

Sardegna
  • Cagliari, Sulcis, Carloforte

Puglia

Volunteer missions

You can protect birds in Sardinia, or become an expert in environmental communication. Becoming a volunteer of the European Solidarity Corps with Lipu you can practice your passion for nature and wildlife, contributing to an important European project to defend the most beautiful and precious italian places.

Help us protect Montagu's harrier

Montagu's harrier is threatened by agricultural mechanization and the use of pesticides. The mission consists of patrolling and censoring the nests, monitoring the population, raising awareness of the local community.

Pollutants and emergency aid

The goal of this mission is to form a team ready to intervent in particular emergency situations such as spills of hydrocarbons. Training and activity takes place at the Lipu Recovery Centers and includes feeding, washing, veterinary care support, release.

Help us protect Lesser kestrels

Lesser kestrels are threatened by the alteration of their hunting habitats due to the modification of agricultural practices and the use of plant protection products. It is necessary to search and survey the nests, monitor the population and raise awareness of the local community.


Help us protect migratory birds of Sardinia

In Sardinia, migrant birds are still heavily threatened by poaching. Eleonora's falcon eggs the hawk's eggs are stolen from the cliffs, other species such as blackbirds, thrushes and robins are victim of traps and nets. The mission consists of monitoring, gathering data and sensitizing local communities

Help us protect Bonelli’s Eagle and Lanner falcon

Two endangered birds of prey due to poaching, intensive agriculture and human disturbance. The mission consists of patrolling and censoring the nests, monitoring the population and sensitizing the local community.

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Help us protect Storks

The greatest threat to the Stork, which often uses power lines for the construction of the nest, is the death by impact with the cables of power lines. The mission consists in the census of the nests, monitoring of the population and sensitization of the local community.


Help us protect Kentish Plovers

Plover lives and nests on the beaches, its color makes it difficult to distinguish from the sand (on which it builds the nest). Cleaning beaches through mechanical means and swimmers are the main threats to this species. The mission consists in the census of the nests and awareness of the bathers and the local population.

Communication Team

Communication is essential for nature conservation. To be protected, nature needs people who know how to communicate its beauty and spread the culture of protecting biodiversity through traditional and social media.

Follow the adventure of ESC volunteers

Some of the young volunteer for Choose Nature project have already started in different regions of Italy. If you use Twitter, Facebook or Intagram you can follow their adventures by searching for #ChooseNature #Choona. If you want to become one of them, send your application now.

Experience your passion for nature

Choose Nature is an environmental volunteer project created by Lipu with the contribution of the European Union and the support of the Cariplo Fundation, dedicated to boys and girls between 18 and 30 years who wants to do something important to protect wilife.

We are looking for motivated, courageous people, ready to get their hands dirty to protect the most precious natural habitats and the most endangered species, with Lipu and the European Solidarity Corps.

Submit your application now

1.535 Guarded nests

23.017 Treated animals

222.182 Volunteer hours per year

1.081 Active volunteers

Want to change the world? Start now!

Choose Nature project (LIFE16 ESC IT 002 "Choo-na!")

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Young volunteers to protect nature.

Today more than ever, nature needs young people who can understand its beauty and commit themselves to defend it, that's why Choose Nature project is born. The Life’s Choose Nature project (Choo-na! LIFE16 ESC IT 002) is a completely new environmental volunteer experience, realized thanks to the LIFE program of the European Union and with the support of the Cariplo Foundation. The aim of the project is to provide young people with an active civic sense that reconnects them to European values with particular attention to the protection of the environment.

Project objective

The aim of Choose Nature project is to involve 310 young volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) who will be engaged in important field missions from August 2017 to August 2019 to take care of 8 species of birds particularly protected by the Birds Directive, and 3 highly endangered species from illegal activities. The activity of the youngsters involved in the missions in defense of the species will be accompanied by a communication group that will make known the project itself and the results achieved.

The missions

Volunteers of “Choose Nature” project are present in 11 Italian regions. Their goal is to promote ecological culture and protect some of the most important species for the italian biodiversity (such as Stork, Golden Eagle, Kentish Plover, Lanner falcon, Lesser kestrel). Young people (between 18 and 30 age) who live in these geographical areas can take part in the “Choose Nature” project.

A useful experience

Young volunteers of the “Choose Nature” project will have the opportunity to work alongside scientists, professionals and other volunteers. They will see the work of a large environmental association acquiring new skills that, in the near future, will be useful in the world of work. An chance to get involved and have experiences that will enrich their curriculum and open professional opportunities. If you are also passionate about nature, you want to work in a team and make a decisive and qualified contribution to the project, fill out the form and get in touch with our staff.

European Solidarity Corps

The (European Solidarity Corps) is the new European Union initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects in their own country or abroad that benefit communities and people around Europe. It was announced by the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker during his annual speech on the state of the Union in September 2016, and was officially launched three months later. European Solidarity Corps brings together young people to build a more inclusive society, supporting vulnerable people and responding to societal challenges. It offers an inspiring and empowering experience for young people who want to help, learn and develop. You can register for the European Solidarity Corps when you are 17 years old, but you cannot start a project until you are over 18. European Solidarity Corps projects will be available to people up to the age of 30 years old.

LIFE (L'Instrument Financier pour l'Environment)

LIFE is the European Union’s funding instrument for the environment (L'Instrument Financier puor l'Environment). A programme dedicated to the implementation, updating and development of environmental policy and legislation of the European Union through the co-financing of projects of European relevance. LIFE was launched in 1992 as an expression of the public awareness of the need to protect the environment.
The Chernobyl disaster, the ozone hole, global warming gave a decisive boost to the implementation of a European policy and institutions dedicated to environmental protection. LIFE began in 1992 and to date there have been five complete phases of the programme (LIFE I: 1992-1995, LIFE II: 1996-1999, LIFE III: 2000-2006 and LIFE+: 2007-2013 and LIFE+ 2014-2020). For more on what LIFE programme is visit> ec.europa.eu/environment/life/

THE NATURA 2000 NETWORK

Natura 2000 is one of the most important instruments of the European Union’s policy for the conservation of biodiversity. It is the largest existing network of protected areas in the world, consisting of approximately 26,000 sites found in all member states. The Natura 2000 Network includes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) designated by member states in accordance with the “Habitat” Directive 92/43 / EEC, and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in accordance with the “Birds” Directive 2009/147/CE. These areas are special because here are well preserved habitats and animal species and important plants for the conservation of biodiversity in Europe. In Italy Natura 2000 sites cover about 19% of the national territory and 4% of territorial sea. For more on what Natura 2000 network is visit > Click here