A 1-2 year period of service giving 16/18 – 25-year-olds the opportunity to tackle some of the problems being caused by Climate Change, Biodiversity loss, and Pollution, giving them first-hand awareness and understanding of the problems, offering further elements of education, and acquiring and developing practical skills in solving them.
For some, the experience may take them outside their comfort zone, mixing with people from different backgrounds, introducing them to different geographical areas, and generally broadening their horizons, following a period when their lives have been physically and mentally restricted.
Pollution of land, sea, waterways, and air poses big problems affecting ecosystems worldwide, on which our lives depend as well as the non-human inhabitants.
Remedies to some of these problems are often beyond the scope of the small voluntary environmental groups currently existing who are doing their best to prevent environmental collapse.
Projects addressing some of these issues could be submitted by Environmental Organisations: Eg: RSPB, The National Trust, National Parks, World Wide Fund for Nature, Wildlife Trusts, The Princes Trust, The Woodland Trust, The Marine Conservation Society, and many others, as well as local government. Collaboration with local government, educational institutions, and some of the best environmental companies, including those involved in developing Hi-Tech solutions could galvanise the UK’s efforts to combat Climate Change and enhance biodiversity in ways yet to be discovered.
The Armed Services could provide organisational ability, and the infrastructure needed to carry out the projects, with assistance from the relevant environmental organisations to lead, advise and ensure completion of the projects.
Participants would experience at first hand the problems and develop skills:
Examples:
Surveying and Monitoring Removal of polluting materials
Finding ways to improve compliance with Bye-Laws and enforcement of environmental standards. Creation of Cycleways, Walkways, Cleaning of Urban and Suburban areas
Cleaning Rural amenity areas, path maintenance.
Assisting in the creation of more efficient Recycling management schemes, not just for domestic recycling.
Beach cleaning, removal of marine litter, assisting projects restoring natural flora and fauna in coastal waters.
Assisting agricultural projects especially helpful to farmers now looking to payments for environmental benefit.
Woodland and forestry projects, tree planting, hedge laying, and sustainable forestry projects.
Projects in National Parks.
Projects promoting, encouraging, and assisting tree and hedge planting in domestic, institutional, and industrial settings.
Projects in Urban areas where green spaces are needed more than ever for health and well-being.
Participants could experience several projects in their period of service
What Participants would gain:
Participants would be encouraged to come up with solutions to problems.
They would be able to develop their own interests by exploring the links with companies and educational institutions involved in the projects with the aim of obtaining future apprenticeships and employment in those areas, or further studies.
They should be paid at least job seekers allowance or equivalent, and living/subsistence accommodation should be provided by the Armed Services where necessary and depending on the nature and location of the project.
They would gain certification, and/or a qualification in recognition and completion of their 1 or 2 years of service.
They would also gain a level of self-discipline and experience which would stand them in good stead in their future lives.
Environmental Service could be jointly funded by Government, large companies, wealthy philanthropists and individuals, all hopefully looking to make a contribution to the Climate and Environmental Crisis.
1780-11