Conserving Earth’s biological diversity and safeguarding the benefits or “ecosystem services” that functioning ecosystems provide humans are two major objectives of natural resources conservation. As human populations increase and natural resources and habitats become more limited, there is a critical need for trained conservation professionals in natural resources conservation. This major provides students with the academic background and professional training to pursue careers in the rapidly growing field of natural resources and environmental conservation. Natural Resources Conservation is a multi-disciplinary field that integrates rigorous academic training in the natural, conservation, and social sciences with hands-on field skills; and field experiences from summer jobs, internships, and cooperative education positions with conservation organizations and the green industry. Students learn about the ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and how these systems can be managed to conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystem functions while providing sustainable benefits to society.
If you have questions or are interested in the NRC major or minor please email Lena Fletcher at lfletche@eco.umass.edu.