Area/TopicConservation, Voluntourism, Human ConnectionChris BraunlichBoard Chair and CEOConservation Volunteers International ProgramChris is Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Conservation Volunteers International Program. She has a bachelor's degree in economics and an MBA in finance from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to retirement, she spent her career working in banking and in finance in the corporate world. How did a person with degrees in economics and finance "end up" volunteering as CEO for an environmental conservation nonprofit? She always loved the outdoors, she has volunteered since she was in high school, and she prefers doing to talking. Brought up in a time when children were free-range, Chris rode her bike, climbed trees, scrambled among the rocks along the ocean cliffs - outdoors was fun, freedom, inner peace. In college her husband introduced her to backpacking, and once they figured out how a 5'3" woman could happily hike with a man who had a 6'3" stride, hiking in the mountains with her husband became her favorite getaway. https://conservationvip.org/summaryChris Braunlich is the board chair and CEO of Conservation Volunteers International Program (Conservation VIP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping sustain landscapes, cultural heritage sites, and biodiversity. The organization focuses on international volunteering and runs programs in various destinations. They rely on revenue from volunteers who participate in their trips and also accept donations. Conservation VIP aims to preserve and protect important places and projects, and they align volunteers with tasks that match their skills and abilities. The organization emphasizes the importance of good trails and the responsibility of global citizens to contribute to conservation efforts. Public lands, such as national parks, are precious places that are increasingly appreciated as urbanization limits access to natural spaces. The maintenance of national parks is a significant challenge, with an estimated $22 billion needed for maintenance in US national parks alone. National parks play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity and preserving natural habitats. However, it is important to balance human access with the need to protect and preserve the natural environment. There is an opportunity for tour operators to partner with conservation organizations to offer trips that incorporate volunteer work and conservation efforts.

takeaways

Conservation VIP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining landscapes, cultural heritage sites, and biodiversity.The organization relies on revenue from volunteers who participate in their trips and also accepts donations.Conservation VIP aligns volunteers with tasks that match their skills and abilities.The organization emphasizes the importance of good trails and the responsibility of global citizens to contribute to conservation efforts. Public lands, such as national parks, are valuable and should be appreciated and protected.The maintenance of national parks is a significant challenge, with a large amount of funding needed.National parks play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity and preserving natural habitats.Balancing human access with the need to protect and preserve the natural environment is important.Tour operators have the opportunity to partner with conservation organizations to offer trips that incorporate volunteer work and conservation efforts.

Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers at bigworldmadesmall.com.