Ecological restoration as a popular form of volunteer participation has been praised as an example of democratic natural resource management. However, the involvement of volunteers in projects guided by professionals does not necessarily ensure democratic knowledge exchange and production. Drawing insights from citizen science and political ecology, this paper explores the dynamics between professional practitioners and volunteers across two types of organizations: university arboreta and municipal parks. Through interviews and surveys with four case study organizations in the American Midwest, this study illustrates that different interpretations of nature, science, and public participation complicate relationships between professional practitioners and volunteers.
Results/Conclusions
Influenced by the institutional identity as research facilities, professional practitioners at the university arboreta frame ecological restoration as scientific exploration of ecological processes and regard the arboreta as places for advancing the science of restoration. By contrast, volunteers emphasize the practical aspect of restoration, regard their participation as contributing to the environment, and enjoy taking stewardship roles. While some long-term volunteers desire to have more responsibilities, scientific authority and research prerogatives constrain space for genuine collaboration between professional practitioners and volunteers. Other tensions concerning priority, authority, and ownership further contribute to distrust and discontent between the two groups. By contrast, at the municipal parks, restoration programs emphasize establishing relationships with the broader community, allow more opportunities for volunteers to get involved, and provide capacity-building and leadership training. Although there are better supportive relationships between professional practitioners and volunteers at the parks, by emphasizing community involvement and social preferences, the ecological foundation of the parks’ restoration projects is less rigorous compared to projects conducted at the university arboreta.
It has been widely recognized that successful conservation efforts need to integrate both social and ecological considerations. Urban-based ecological restoration programs, especially, face diverse stakeholders’ different interpretations of why and how to pursue such endeavors. While volunteers are a critical component of restoration programs, this study unveils the expert-lay dynamics and conflicts therein. Addressing these social complexities embedded in restoration projects not only provides opportunities for better collaboration, but also makes an important stride towards integrating social and ecological systems in restoration.