BTCV is a leading partner in the global charity Conservation Volunteers Alliance (CVA), formed in 1999. This was the first international affiliation of organisations dedicated to giving conservation volunteers a voice on the global stage.

The partnership supports the exchange of skills, information and people in order to set standards, stimulate growth, direct research and raise funds for conservation volunteering.

More than a million volunteers in ten countries are represented through the alliance's member organisations around the world. Details of the countries, organisations, and what they do locally and internationally can be found on the CVA website.

Key aims of the CVA are:

• To raise the profile of and gain recognition for the achievements of conservation volunteers
• Advocate and influence on behalf of conservation volunteering organisations
• Improve communications between group members
• Ensure that the voice of conservation volunteers is heard by global decision makers
• Facilitate access to new funds
• Set benchmarks and standards for practical conservation

Examples of our work

Initiatives that have taken place to date include:

• Staff exchanges where Health & Safety officers from BTCV and Conservation Volunteers Australia spent two weeks in each organisation to conduct audits on aspects of their work
• Setting standards and benchmarks for conservation volunteering is one of the largest projects co-ordinated by Conservation Volunteers Australia