Communities of Change: Impacts of Cultural Ecosystem Services on Wells Reserve Volunteers

The Wells Reserve is home to a vibrant volunteer community. This past spring, surveys were sent out to the volunteers to determine what impacts the Wells Reserve has on them through measuring cultural ecosystem services. These services (CES) are defined as the non-material benefits someone receives from interacting with natural spaces. Our hope through this research was to better understand what volunteers have gained from their time here, and how to continue improving volunteer programs. Furthermore, understanding the impact of CES on broader communities can help engagement with environmental resources and stewardship. At this presentation, summer intern Emma Knudson will dive into the results of the Reserve’s volunteer cultural ecosystem services survey and unpack what they mean for this community, and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System as a whole.

About the Presenter

Emma Knudson is working at the Wells Reserve this summer as a NOAA Hollings Scholar. She is spending the summer working on her research project and assisting with the children’s summer camps! She is originally from Morris, Illinois and currently studies environmental science at the University of Missouri. She spends her time leading and being part of organizations at school including Women in Natural Resources, the Mizzou Speech and Debate Team, and the Soil Judging Team. She also loves running and reading in her free time!