Paper Short Abstract:

Through an ethnography of an ecovolunteering program in the Swiss Alps, this proposal examines how volunteers in mountain pastures transform environmental awareness into action. Using the concept of "embodied ecological empathy", we analyse how their commitment with breeders, shepherds, and large carnivores develops practical solutions for human-wildlife coexistence.

Paper Abstract:

This proposal examines how volunteer programs in Swiss mountain agriculture help us to understand the transformation of inaction into the power of act. While most social and institutional actors acknowledge the urgency of environmental crises, the gap between awareness and meaningful change remains substantial. Through an ethnography of the OPPAL program, which supports mountain farmers in their coexistence with large carnivores, we analyse how volunteers move beyond the status quo to embrace radical changes in their relationship with non-human life. Our research reveals how these volunteers, mainly from urban backgrounds, develop what we call "embodied ecological empathy" through direct engagement with the mountain environment. Their practical involvement in traditional agricultural techniques and wildlife conservation shows how abstract environmental awareness can be transformed into concrete practices of care. Based on fieldwork carried out between 2023 and 2024, this study shows how volunteers' experiences challenge conventional narratives about human-wildlife conflicts. By supporting farmers in their adaptation to the presence of large carnivores, these individuals actively participate in reinventing human and non-human relationships. Their commitment goes beyond theoretical critique to materialize practical solutions for coexistence. This research contributes to understanding how environmental empathy can be activated through direct engagement with ecosystem. We argue that volunteer programs such as OPPAL create spaces where participants can overcome the paralysis often associated with environmental awareness. These initiatives highlight how individuals can shift from resignation to active participation in ecological transformation, offering valuable insights for broader societal change.