Profession 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.

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Personality Type

  • Investigative / Realistic

Knowledge

  • Biology

    Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.

  • Business management principles

    Principles governing business management methods such as strategy planning, methods of efficient production, people and resources coordination.

  • Environmental legislation

    The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.

  • Animal species

    The characteristics of different species and breeds of animals (relevant to the occupation).

  • 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).

  • Ecology

    The study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.

Skills

  • Identify plants characteristics

    Identify crop characteristics. Identify fruit or vegetable or crops ready for harvest. Grade, classify, or sort products according to specifications. Be able to recognise different types of bulbs by name, graded sizes, field markings and stock markings.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Advise on nature conservation

    Provide information and suggested actions relating to the conservation of nature.

  • 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.

  • Use ICT recources to solve work related tasks

    Ability to choose and use ICT recources in order to solve related tasks

  • Coordinate educational programmes

    Plan and coordinate educational and public outreach programs such as workshops, tours, lectures and classes.

  • Respond to enquiries

    Respond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.

Optional knowledge and skills

negotiate land access forestry regulations supervise forestry workers perform project management conduct erosion control liaise with cultural partners chemistry forest ecology present exhibition conduct sediment control support volunteers manage forests manage forest fires inspect trees direct an artistic team advise on tree issues

Common job titles

  • Program manager
  • Staff scientist
  • City research scientist ii
  • Environmental scientist
  • Community protection specialist
  • Open position - post doc or research scientist
  • Geologist or environmental scientist
  • Environmental scientist/consultant - nyc
  • Agricultural program manager