5 ways you can help save the planet

Join one of these travel volunteering projects that will help you connect to nature - and help the planet at the same time
Amy Harris2 June 2017

After this week's shock announcement from Donald Trump about the US leaving the Paris climate agreement, there's never been a better time to step back from the digital world we live in and reconnect with mother nature.

In celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, here are five volunteering projects where you can combine a love of travel with saving the planet.

1. Volunteer at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand

Elephants have had a history of mistreatment in Thailand. Historically elephants were taken from the wild and made to work in the logging industry, now elephants are taken out on the streets of Bangkok and forced to perform tricks. This is an illegal practice in Thailand, and luckily there are elephant sanctuaries helping to rescue these elephants. Volunteering at this elephant sanctuary in the Malay Peninsula you will play a vital role in caring for and rehabilitating the rescued elephants. Tasks will include harvesting grass to ensure the elephants have plenty of food and helping to bathe the elephants. In your free time explore the beaches and beautiful scenery in this striking area of Thailand.

1 week costs £779; each additional week costs £195 per week, excluding flights. Find out more.

2. Help protect turtles in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is home to vast stretches of beautiful turtle nesting beaches. Unfortunately the turtles living here are at great risk of extinction, with the sea turtle population in Costa Rica rapidly plummeting. Turtles are plagued by numerous threats including predation from other animals and human interference, such as egg poaching, industrial fishing and the sale of turtle shell products. By taking part in the turtle conservation project you will help protect this endangered species from extinction by helping to safely hatch turtle eggs, working to end industrial fishing and helping to teach in the local community. On your days off relax on a hammock among the palm trees or swim in the sea.

1 week costs £879; each additional week costs £260 per week, excluding flights. Find out more.

3. Conserve Australia’s natural wonders

Step off of the well-beaten tourist path and venture into the heart of Australia, with this project to conserve Australia’s natural wonders. Australia is a tourist hotspot, and with such a diverse range of terrain to explore it’s no surprise – from beaches to coral reefs to snow covered mountains, Australia has it all. However, the country has been victim to pollution, climate change, urban development and other harmful factors which are destroying much of the beautiful nature which tourists come to see. With this conservation project you will take on numerous missions, from planting trees to restoring boardwalks and wildlife habitat restoration. The project includes working in cities, national parks and beaches, with an option to pick between various routes across Australia’s 15 gateway cities.

2 weeks costs £790; each additional week is £240 excluding flights. Find out more.

4. Volunteer underwater in Thailand

Help to protect Thailand’s coral reefs with a diving and marine conservation project. Immerse yourself in the underwater world, completing daily dives off the stunning Thai island of Koh Phangan, all whilst helping with important research and conservation. Most of the world’s coral reefs are under threat; this is an important issue as without coral reef fish will become extinct. With this project you can combine the adventure of exploring under the sea with crucial work to help conserve marine habitat and species. Every day will involve diving across various locations where you will be examining the local coral reef and water temperature to contribute to ongoing research. As well as helping to conserve the marine environment you can also earn a diving qualification upon completion of this project, opening up a whole new world of underwater exploration.

2 weeks costs £1255 for PADI qualified divers; each additional fortnight costs £400. If you are not a qualified diver you can take the PADI Open Water course during your stay for an extra £350. Find out more.

5. Preserve the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are widely recognised as one of the most beautiful places on the planet. With its incredible biodiversity, its craggy beauty and its protected landscapes, it has gone down in legend as the world’s premier wildlife destination. However the wildlife on the Islands have been under threat since the 1500s – seas have been over-fished, lands have been over-farmed and native plants and species have been overtaken by mainland creatures - 60 per cent of the Islands’ native vegetation is considered to be under threat. With this conservation project you will get the opportunity to experience and protect the beauty of the Galapagos through removing invasive vegetation, community engagement and helping local farmers. In your free time you can explore the wonders of the Galapagos including snorkelling in the crystal waters and joining the sea lions on the beach.

1 week costs £893; each additional week costs £250 per week, excluding flights. Find out more.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in