Objective The volunteer service management system is considered to be an important way to achieve the vision and goals of national parks. However, the current volunteer service management system for national parks in China has not yet been established. The United Kingdom (“UK”), with its well-developed and mature volunteer service management system under the management of the National Parks Authority (NPA) and related partners, provides an exemplary model for the establishment of the volunteer service management system for national parks. In the UK, over 5,000 volunteers actively provide volunteer services in various national parks annually, aiding the NPA in conserving natural and cultural heritage and improving visitor experience. This research aims to critically analyze and summarize the core characteristics of the UK’s volunteer service management system for national parks, so as to offer insights and references for China’s ongoing efforts in establishing its own volunteer service management system for national parks.
Methods This research takes 14 national parks in the UK as the research object, collects the official data and literature on national parks in the UK and systematically sorts out special management contents such as management documents, management agencies, and management funds through text analysis. Then the research summarizes the characteristics of volunteer service management in each national park and combines similar characteristics, based on which the characteristics of the universal volunteer service management system for national parks in the UK are finally summarized. Meanwhile, on the basis of literature review, this research searches relevant official data on the first batch of national parks announced in China, analyzes such contents as management documents, activity management, and personnel recruitment management, and compares the same horizontally with the volunteer service management system for national parks in the UK so as to analyze the shortcomings of the volunteer service management system for national parks in China and put forward corresponding suggestions.
Results The research finds that the 14 national parks in the UK have sound volunteer service management policies, management system structures and volunteer recruitment websites, as well as open and transparent volunteer screening mechanisms and volunteer feedback channels. In addition, most of the national parks have public data on the management of volunteer service funds, and a small number of national parks have public statistics on the number of volunteers and the total number of volunteer hours per year. The relevant data are further sorted out, and the characteristics of the management system are summarized from three aspects: Management system architecture, volunteer recruitment and management, and volunteer service content management. First, under The Environment Act, the UK’s national parks are established to protect natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage, and to promote public understanding and appreciation of the special qualities of national parks. Therefore, in order to promote full multi-stakeholder cooperation and public participation, the management of volunteer service in the UK’s national parks is based on a partnership system, which includes the following three aspects. 1) Preparation of long-term and short-term management policy documents; 2) open and transparent management of partner funds; 3) clear division of partner management responsibilities. Second, in order to realize the public welfare of national parks, the volunteer service management system has set up a wide range of volunteer participation methods, which are embodied in the following two aspects. 1) Publicly available volunteer recruitment information; 2) classified recruitment and management method that cover a wide range of volunteers. Third, in order to strengthen the sense of gain of volunteers, the UK’s volunteer service management system for national parks has set up a variety of ways to facilitate in-depth participation of volunteers, which is embodied in the following three aspects. 1) Rich and diverse volunteer activities; 2) professional and comprehensive volunteer training; 3) open encouragement aiming to promote volunteers to share their feelings.
Conclusion There are still deficiencies in the management of volunteer service in China’s national parks in terms of the preparation of relevant management documents, the setting of fund management methods, and the management of personnel recruitment. However, in essence, the root cause of the above-mentioned management deficiencies is insufficient understanding of the core positioning of volunteer service as an important carrier of the national public welfare attributes of national parks. Therefore, relevant management agencies must recognize that the volunteer service in China’s national parks is of a public welfare nature, so no enterprises, institutions, or individuals related to the volunteer service management system shall have selfish intentions or seek personal gain in the management process. This is the basic premise for the establishment of the volunteer service management system for national parks in China. Only by deepening the above understanding can the establishment of the volunteer service management system for national parks in China be effectively implemented. On this basis, this research puts forward the following suggestions in combination with specific practice. 1) Establish a flexible, effective, transparent and open management system with clear division of labor. 2) Expand the scope of volunteers in national parks through multiple ways. 3) Further deepen the setting and supporting management of volunteer service content to enhance the sense of gain of volunteers providing volunteer services.
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