Conservation scientist

Conservation scientists manage the quality of specific forests, parks and other natural resources. They protect the wildlife habitat, biodiversity, scenic value, and other unique attributes of preserves and conservation lands. Conservation scientists perform field work.

The following job titles also refer to conservation scientist:

park naturalist
park ranger
wildlife biologist
environmental scientist
conservationist
conservation scientists
conservation programs specialist

Master’s degree is generally required to work as conservation scientist. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Conservation scientist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to conservation scientist.

curator of horticulture
environmental geologist
research manager
nature conservation officer
natural resources consultant

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of conservation scientist. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of conservation scientist with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of conservation scientist.

Business management principles: Principles governing business management methods such as strategy planning, methods of efficient production, people and resources coordination.
Geographic information systems: The tools involved in geographical mapping and positioning, such as GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).
Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
Biology: Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
Ecology: The study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.
Animal species: The characteristics of different species and breeds of animals (relevant to the occupation).

These skills are necessary for the role of conservation scientist.

Measure trees: Take all relevant measurements of a tree: use a clinometer to gauge the height, tape to measure the circumference, and increment borers and bark gauges to estimate the growth rate.
Develop environmental policy: Develop an organisational policy on sustainable development and compliance with environmental legislation in line with policy mechanisms used in the field of environmental protection.
Identify plants characteristics: Identify and classify crop characteristics. Be able to recognise different types of bulbs by name, graded sizes, field markings and stock markings.
Use ict recources to solve work related tasks: Ability to choose and use ICT recources in order to solve related tasks
Educate people about nature: Speak to a variety of audiences about e.g. information, concepts, theories and/or activities related to nature and its conservation. Produce written information. This information may be presented in a range of formats e.g. display signs, information sheets, posters, website text etc.
Respond to enquiries: Respond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.
Conduct educational activities: Plan, perform and supervise educational activities for a variety of audiences, such as for school children, university students, specialist groups, or members of the public.
Write work-related reports: Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.
Manage contracts: Negotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, agree on and document any changes.
Coordinate educational programmes: Plan and coordinate educational and public outreach programs such as workshops, tours, lectures and classes.
Advise on nature conservation: Provide information and suggested actions relating to the conservation of nature.
Educate the public about wildlife: Speak with groups of adults and children to teach them how to enjoy the forest without harming it or themselves. Speak in schools or with specific youth groups if called upon. Develop and teach programs related to nature conservation.
Estimate duration of work: Produce accurate calculations on time necessary to fulfil future technical tasks based on past and present information and observations or plan the estimated duration of individual tasks in a given project.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of conservation scientist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Forestry regulations: The legal rules applicable to forestry: agricultural law, rural law, and laws on hunting and fishing.
Chemistry: The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.
Forest ecology: The ecosystems existing in a forest, starting from bacteria to trees and soil types.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of conservation scientist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Conduct sediment control: Manage sediment control processes and projects. Plan sediment control actions to prevent eroded soil from polluting nearby waterways.
Liaise with cultural partners: Establish and maintain sustainable partnerships with cultural authorities, sponsors and other cultural institutions.
Advise on tree issues: Provide advice to organisations and private persons on planting trees and tree safety. Investigate current conservation and tree management projects.
Manage forests: Develop forestry management plans by applying business methods and forestry principles in order to efficiently manage forest resources.
Inspect trees: Carry out tree inspections and surveys.
Conduct erosion control: Manage erosion control processes and projects. Plan erosion control actions to control or prevent erosion from occurring and avoid water pollution or soil loss.
Supervise forestry workers: Supervise and coordinate the staff that works in the forestry areas.
Direct an artistic team: Lead and instruct a complete team with the required cultural expertise and experience.
Negotiate land access: Negotiate with landowners, tenants, mineral rights owners, regulatory bodies or other stakeholders to obtain permission to access areas of interest for exploration or sampling.
Present exhibition: Present an exhibition and give educational lectures in a comprehensible way that is attractive to the public.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
Support volunteers: Follow up volunteer activity.
Manage forest fires: Protect life, property and resources by preventing forest fires. Detect, control, restrict and suppress fires when they occur. Integrate knowledge of fire regimes, the effects of fire and the values at risk, the required level of forest protection, and costs of fire-related activities.

2133 – Environmental protection professionals

 

 

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References

1. Conservation scientist – ESCO