Natural Resources Conservation: Now What?
Quick Facts: Conservation Scientists and Foresters
Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 2023 Median Pay: $68,300 per year; $32.84 per hour
- Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: Internship/residency
- Number of Jobs, 2022: 36,000
- Job Outlook, 2022-32: 4% (As fast as average)
- Employment Change, 2022-32: 1,300
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/conservation-scientists.htm
What Is Natural Resources Conservation?
Conservation biology has focused on the scientific study of the nature and of Earth’s biodiversity, with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction. Today's conservation science incorporates conservation biology into a broader interdisciplinary field that explicitly recognizes the tight coupling of social and natural systems. 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, towards the goal of bettering natural resource management.
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. Natural conservation scientists study the ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and how these systems can best be managed to conserve biodiversity, protect ecosystem functions, and provide sustainable benefits to humans in society. Emerging priorities include pursuing conservation within working landscapes, rebuilding public support, working with the corporate sector, and paying better attention to human rights and equity.
What Do Conservation Scientists And Foresters Do?
Conservation scientists and foresters typically do the following:
- Monitor forestry and conservation activities to assure compliance with government regulations
- Establish plans for managing forest lands and resources
- Supervise activities of other forestry and conservation workers
- Choose and prepare sites for new trees using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear land
- Negotiate terms and conditions for forest harvesting and land-use contracts
- Direct and participate in forest-fire suppression
- Determine ways to remove timber with minimum environmental damage
- Monitor forest-cleared lands to ensure that they are suitable for future use
Conservation scientists manage, improve, and protect the country's natural resources. They work with landowners and federal, state, and local governments to devise ways to use and improve the land while safeguarding the environment. Conservation scientists advise farmers, farm managers, and ranchers on how they can improve their land for agricultural purposes and control erosion.
Foresters have a wide range of duties, and their responsibilities vary depending on their employer. Some primary duties of foresters include drawing up plans to regenerate forested lands, monitoring the progress of those lands, and supervising tree harvests. They also come up with plans to keep forests free from disease, harmful insects, and damaging wildfires. Foresters may choose and direct the preparation of sites on which trees will be planted. They advise on the type, number, and placement of trees to be planted. When the trees reach a certain size, foresters decide which trees should be harvested and sold to sawmills.
Conservation scientists and foresters evaluate data on forest and soil quality, assessing damage to trees and forest lands caused by fires and logging activities. In addition, they lead activities such as fire suppression and planting seedlings. Fire suppression activities include measuring how quickly fires will spread and how successful the planned suppression activity turns out. Scientists and foresters use their skills to determine a fire’s impact on a region’s environment. Communication with firefighters and other forest workers is an important component of fire suppression activities because the information that conservation scientists and foresters give can change how firefighters work.
Conservation scientists and foresters use a number of tools to perform their jobs. They use clinometers to measure the heights of trees, diameter tapes to measure a tree’s circumference, and increment borers and bark gauges to measure the growth of trees so that timber volumes can be computed and growth rates estimated. In addition, conservation scientists and foresters often use remote sensing (aerial photographs and other imagery taken from airplanes and satellites) and geographic information systems (GIS) data to map large forest or range areas and to detect widespread trends of forest and land use. They make extensive use of hand-held computers and global positioning systems (GPS) to study these maps.
The following are some types of conservation scientists and foresters:
Procurement foresters buy timber by contacting local forest owners and negotiating a sale. This activity typically involves taking inventory on the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property. Procurement foresters then appraise the timber’s worth, negotiate its purchase, and draw up a contract. The forester then subcontracts with loggers or pulpwood cutters to remove the trees and to help lay out roads to get to the timber.
Other foresters, mostly in the federal government, study issues facing forests and related natural resources. They may study issues such as tree improvement and harvesting techniques, global climate change, improving wildlife habitats, and protecting forests from pests, diseases, and wildfires.
Urban foresters live and work in larger cities and manage urban trees. They are concerned with quality-of-life issues, including air quality, shade, and storm water runoff.
Conservation education foresters train teachers and students about issues facing forest lands.
Two of the most common types of conservation scientists are range managers and soil conservationists.
Range managers, also called range conservationists, protect rangelands to maximize their use without damaging the environment. Rangelands contain many natural resources and cover hundreds of millions of acres in the United States, mainly in the western states and Alaska. Range managers may inventory soils, plants, and animals; develop resource management plans; help to restore degraded ecosystems; or help manage a ranch. They also maintain soil stability and vegetation for uses such as wildlife habitats and outdoor recreation. Like foresters, they work to prevent and reduce wildfires and invasive animal species.
Soil and water conservationists give technical help to people who are concerned with the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. For private landowners, they develop programs to make the most productive use of land without damaging it. They also help landowners with issues such as dealing with erosion. They help private landowners and governments by advising on water quality, preserving water supplies, preventing groundwater contamination, and conserving water.
What Can I Do With A Degree In Natural Resources Conservation?
Animal Nursery Worker
Arborists & Urban Foresters
Civil Engineering Technician
Community Organizer
Conservation Law Enforcement Officers –
Conservation Program Manager
Conservation Scientist
Conservation Technician
Elementary / High School Science Teacher
Environmental Educator
Environmental Lawyers
Environmental Science Technician
Environmental Specialist
Fish/Game Warden
Forest Firefighter
Forest/Wildlife Detective
Forestry Worker
Fundraiser
GIS/Mapping Technician
Land Planner
Landscape Architect
Naturalists and Environmental Educators
Outdoor Recreation Specialists
Park Managers and Rangers
Permit Coordinator
Plant Ecologist
Professional Foresters and Plant Ecologists
Public Relations Specialist
Real Estate Inspector
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Restoration Specialist
Science Writer
Soil Scientist
Systems Ecologist
Water and Land Use Planners
Water Resource Technician
Watershed Scientist
Wildlife and Fisheries Technicians
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Manager
Zoologist
Who Might I Work For?
About 70% of conservation scientists work for federal, state or local governments.
County Soil and Water Conservations Districts
Environmental Consulting Firms
Forestry Companies
Green Builders
Land Brokers
Land Management Agencies
Land Surveying Firms
Lobbying Firms
Municipal Water Depts
National Forest Service
Natl Oceanographic & Atmospheric Admin
Parks Service (National, State, private)
Schools & Colleges
Social Advocacy Organizations
State/Local Govt Agencies
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
US Department of Energy (DOE)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
US Fish & Wildlife
USDA Resource Conservation Service
Watershed District
Selection of Employers for recent (Class of 2024) UMass Amherst Natural Resources Conservation alumni:
- Barlett Tree Experts
- Bay State Forestry Service
- Cain Hibbard & Myers PC
- EST Associates Inc.
- Loomacres Wildlife Management
- Mass Audubon
- Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Museum of Science Boston
- Nantucket Land Bank
- New England Aquarium
- New England Regional Center of vector-borne Diseases
- Sierra Institute for Community & Environment
- SOLitude Lake Management
- SWCA Environmental Consultants
- UMass Amherst
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service, National Seed Laboratory
- USDA Forest Service
- Wildlife Fertility Institute
Where Might I do an Internship?
UMass Amherst Natural Resource Conservation Majors Have Done Internships At The Following Sites:
- Amherst (Town of)
- Bayshore Discovery Project
- Bioshelters Inc.
- Campaign to Save the Environment
- Conservation Services Group, Inc. (CGS)
- Denali Lodges
- Elephants Without Borders
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Flynn Associates
- Global Vision International
- Greenpeace, Inc.
- Hitchcock Center for the Environment
- MA Dept. of Environ. Mgmt.
- MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
- Mass Public Interest Research Group (MassPIRG)
- Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
- Smith Barney
- Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)
- Southwick Conservation Commission
- Triumvirate Environmental
- Trustees of Reservations
- UMass Amherst Campus Sustainability Initiative
- UMass Amherst Nat Res Conservation Dept
- UMass Amherst Cold Spring Orchard
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US District Court - District of Connecticut
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- UTC Power
- Walt Disney World
Career Planning Resources & Websites
Career Exploration Tools: https://www.umass.edu/careers/career-journey/self-discovery
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh
Massachusetts Career Information System: http://masscis.intocareers.org
(Click Mass Resident to login with “Amherst/01003” Then click “Occupations” or “Assessments”)
Career Planning Resources & Websites (cont.)
Conservation Careers and Internships (Intl. too): www.conservation-careers.com
Forestry & Natural Resources Links: https://forestrycareers.org/careers
Forestry Sub-Disciplines: https://forestrycareers.org/sub_disciplines
List of Oceanography and Marine Sci Careers: https://peterbrueggeman.com/ocean/career.html
Reports on Jobs in the Growing Green Economy: https://www.findingearthworks.com/resources/
Natural Resources Job and Internship Search Resources
UMass Amherst Specific Job Search Resources
UMass Handshake Database of Internships & Jobs: https://umass.joinhandshake.com/
UMass Amherst Dept of Environmental Conservation: http://eco.umass.edu/for-current-students
UMass Amherst Local Sustainability Jobs/Internships: www.umass.edu/sustainability/resources
UMass Office of Undergraduate Research & Studies: https://www.umass.edu/ours/
Natural Resources Conservation
Appalachian Mountain Club: www.outdoors.org/employment
Chicagoland Environmental Network: www.chicagoenvironment.org/jobintern
Conservation International (US & Intl): https://www.conservation.org
Conservation Job Board: www.conservationjobboard.com
Cool Works Jobs in Great Places: www.coolworks.com
Earthworks Jobs By Category: http://earthworks-jobs.com
Environmental Career (post resume & apply through): https://environmentalcareer.com/
Environmental Career Opportunities (ECO): http://www.ecojobs.com/
Environmental Jobs: http://environmentaljobs.com
Farm & Ranch Jobs (by State): www.farmandranchjobs.com
General Science Jobs (widely defined): http://jobs.sciencecareers.org
General Science Jobs (widely defined): http://jobs.newscientist.com
Green Dream Jobs: www.sustainablebusiness.com
Green Jobs: https://greenjobs.net/
Green Job Search: http://www.greenjobsearch.org/
Global Vision International Careers Abroad: www.careersabroad.co.uk/vacancies
Idealist -- Opportunities for Action: www.idealist.org
LinkedIn Green Job and Career Network: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=77194
Mass Clean Energy Center Jobs Board: www.masscec.com/work-clean-energy/jobs
Massachusetts (State) Environmental Agencies: www.mass.gov/eea/agencies
National Environmental Health Assoc Job Board: https://www.neha.org/careers?utm_source=web&utm_medium=home_icon
National Park Service Jobs: www.nps.gov/aboutus/workwithus.htm
NatureJobs (widely defined): www.nature.com/naturejobs/science
NYC & Intl Wildlife Conserv Society Jobs & Internships: https://www.wcs.org/
Sierra Club Jobs: https://www.sierraclub.org/careers
Texas A&M Wildlife & Fisheries Jobs Board (some intl): http://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/job-board
Water Industry Jobs: https://www.workforwater.org/careers-in-water/
Water Environment Federation (WEF) Job Bank: http://jobbank.wef.org/jobseekers
World Wildlife Federation Jobs: https://www.worldwildlife.org/about/careers
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: www.nrcs.usda.gov/about
USA Jobs (for ALL Federal Govt Jobs): www.usajobs.gov
Yale’s List of Environmental Jobs Sites: https://resources.environment.yale.edu/careers/resources/jobs-sites/
Internships and Field Research in Conservation Science
UMass Amherst Dept of Environmental Conservation: http://eco.umass.edu/for-current-students
Columbia List of Summer Internships in Ecology: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug
American Geosciences Institute (Geosci & Public Policy): www.americangeosciences.org
Campus Access List of Environmental Internships: www.campusaccess.com/internships
Chicagoland Environmental Network: www.chicagoenvironment.org/jobintern
Cool Works Internships: www.coolworks.com/internships
Ecological Society of America: Fieldwork Internships: https://www.esa.org/career-development/
Global Vision Intl Careers Abroad: Internships: www.careersabroad.co.uk/internships
Internships in Federal Government Agencies (EPA etc): www.usajobs.gov/Search?Internship=Yes
MassCEC Paid Internships Program: https://www.masscec.com/clean-energy-internships-students
National Park Service Internships (nationwide): https://www.nps.gov/subjects/youthprograms/jobs-and-internships.htm
NYC Parks and Recreation Internships: www.nycgovparks.org/opportunities
Sierra Club: www.sierraclub.org/sierra/internships
Student Conservation Association (SCA): www.thesca.org
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF): www.wwoof.net
Professional Organizations
Many professional organization’s websites have career information on them. You can often use them to search for networking events, meet a mentor in your field of study, find current research, search for internships or jobs, and gain insight into what direction within the field you may wish to pursue.
American Water Works Association: www.awwa.org
Assoc for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Ed: https://www.aashe.org
Assoc for Environmental Studies and Sciences: https://aessonline.org/
Ecological Society of America: www.esa.org
Local Govt Environmental Assistance Network: https://www.lgean.net/financing.php (has grants & funding opps)
Mass. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/massachusetts
Minorities in Natural Resource Conservation (MINRC): www.minrc.org
Natl Assoc for Environmental Professionals (NAEP): www.naep.org
Renewable Natural Resources Foundation: www.rnrf.org
Society for Conservation Biology: www.conbio.org
Society of Wetland Scientists: http://sws.org
Society for Range Management: www.rangelands.org
UMass Amherst Eco Dept Student Societies & Groups: http://eco.umass.edu/for-current-students
US Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: www.nrcs.usda.gov/about
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): www.wcs.org/about-us/careers.aspx
Yale’s List of Additional Professional Organizations: https://resources.environment.yale.edu/careers/resources/env-professional-associations/
Other Environmental and Conservationist Resources
Envirolink: www.envirolink.org
Environmental News Network: www.enn.com
Greenfield Farm and Food Systems Classes: www.gcc.mass.edu/academics
Journal of Young Investigators (Undergrad Research): www.jyi.org
NESEA Sustainable Green Pages (for Northeast): http://nesea.org/greenpages
Important Transferable Qualities To Include On Your Resume
Analytical skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must evaluate the results of a variety of field tests and experiments, all of which require precision and accuracy.
Critical-thinking skills. Conservation scientists and foresters reach conclusions through sound reasoning and judgment. They determine how to improve forest conditions, and they must react appropriately to fires.
Decision-making skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must use their expertise and experience to determine whether their findings will have an impact on soil, forest lands, and the spread of fires.
Interpersonal skills. Conservation scientists and foresters need to work well with the forest and conservation workers and technicians they supervise, so effective communication is critical.
Physical stamina. Conservation scientists and foresters often walk long distances in steep and wooded areas. They work in all kinds of weather, including extreme heat and cold.
Speaking skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must give clear instructions to forest and conservation workers and technicians, who typically do the labor necessary for proper forest maintenance.
What Do Employers Look For? (NACE 2024 Job Outlook for Students)
Top 10 Skills Employers Seek on Candidate Resumes
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Communication skills (written)
- Strong work ethic
- Flexibility/adaptability
- Communication (verbal)
- Technical Skills
- Analytical/Quantitative Skills
- Initiative
- Detail-oriented
Top 7 Attributes that can positively influence employers the most
- Internship with the organization
- Internship within the industry
- Major
- General work experience
- Leadership experience
- Extracurricular activities
- High GPA (3.0 or above)