Sector Outline
Working in conservation is a common aim for someone keen to work in the environment sector and this career choice feels like a direct response to wanting to make a difference.
There is a lot of crossover between this sector and those in consultancy and NGOs, as significant conservation work is delivered through NGOs, and consultancies have growing employment for conservation and ecology professionals.
As policy and legislation grows in the sector, so do the number of jobs.
Lucas, Gora and Alonso (2017) note:
‘Conservation is now a primary goal of most national governments as indicated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s implementation of the strategic plan for biodiversity conservation (Convention on Biological Diversity 2011) and with 187 countries committing to decreasing carbon emissions at the 2015 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Conference. With these extensive commitments to conservation worldwide, the need for well-trained scientists and managers in the field of conservation is at its highest.
Due to the global nature of conservation, positions in conservation management and research are based in countries with different levels of economic development (hereafter development). Level of development often has a large impact on a country’s strategy and ability to address conservation challenges.
Countries with developing economies often struggle with a perceived trade-off between economic growth and conservation (Czech 2008) and may not have sufficient funds to meet conservation needs.
Advanced economies may have more funds available, and organizations frequently collaborate with the private sector to create positive conservation outcomes (Robinson 2012).’
Career and Job Links
UK
British Ecologists
www.facebook.com/groups/847369591966377
UK Ecology Jobs and Courses
www.facebook.com/groups/860839280999125
Conservation Careers Advice - Top Ten Tips on how to get a job in conservation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpmyQLg5Mjg
Peter Lynch (2009) ‘Wildlife & Conservation Volunteering: The Complete Guide’, Bradt Travel Guides
Malcolm L. Hunter, David Lindenmayer and Aram Calhoun (2007) ‘Saving the Earth as a Career: Advice on Becoming a Conservation Professional’ Wiley Blackwell
HOW TO GET INTO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. Zoology degree, volunteering, working with animals.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cepkBw4iZY
Steph Into Nature
www.stephintonature.com
Mark Carwardine (zoologist and conservationist)
How to get a career in conservation
www.markcarwardine.com/advice/careers-in-conservation.html
James Borrell, Conservation Biologist
www.jamesborrell.com/how-to-get-a-job-in-conservation-and-love-your-work
Europe
Rewilding Europe
www.rewildingeurope.com
European Commission – Species protection
www.ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/index_en.htm
IUCN - Europe
www.iucn.org/regions/europe
Conservation International Europe
www.conservation.org/places/conservation-international-europe
Society for Conservation Biology – Europe
www.conbio.org/groups/sections/europe
European Outdoor Conservation Association
www.outdoorconservation.eu
Asia
Society for Conservation Biology – Asia
www.conbio.org/groups/sections/asia
Wildlife Conservation Society – Asia
www.wcs.org/our-work/places/asia
Squires, D. (2014), Biodiversity Conservation in Asia. Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, 1: 144-159. doi:10.1002/app5.13
Africa
African Conservation Foundation
www.africanconservation.org
Rhett Butler, Mongabay (2019) Transforming African conservation from old social cause into next-gen growth market
www.news.mongabay.com/2019/09/transforming-african-conservation-from-old-social-cause-into-next-gen-growth-market
Conservation Jobs: Africa
www.facebook.com/groups/1774928439290236
North America
Ecological Society of America
www.esa.org
Conservation International
www.conservation.org
www.conservation.org/about/conservation-international-jobs
Student Conservation Association
www.thesca.org
ESA Community LISTSERVs - ECOLOG-L:
www.esa.org/membership/ecolog
(requires account and login)
A Rocha Conservation Internships
www.arocha.ca/conservation-internship
Paul Greenland and AnnaMarie L. Sheldon (2007) ‘Career Opportunities in Conservation and the Environment’ Checkmark Books
Government of Canada Job Bank – Conservation Officer in Canada
www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/summary-occupation/3202/ca
Ecojobs
www.ecojobs.com
www.ecojobs.com/environmental-internships.htm
Land Trust Alliance – land conservation jobs
www.landtrustalliance.org/list/land-trust-job-board
National Wildlife Federation
www.nwf.org/Home/About-Us/Careers
Ornithology Exchange
www.ornithologyexchange.org/jobs/board
Biggest Tip for Careers in Wildlife Biology and Ecology - Fancy Scientist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG8vfFPItks
Conservation Job Board (USA):
www.conservationjobboard.com
The Wildlife Society
https://careers.wildlife.org/jobseeker/search/results
CJB Network
www.cjbnetwork.com/search/category/wildlife-science
How To Become A Wildlife Biologist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyuP6K0Tu2Y
Ecological Society of America
www.esacareercenter.org
South America
Society for Conservation Biology – Latin America & Caribbean
www.conbio.org/groups/sections/latin-america-caribbean
OECD (2018) Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use in Latin America
www.oecd.org/publications/biodiversity-conservation-and-sustainable-use-in-latin-america-9789264309630-en.htm
The Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/latin-america
Oceania
Australia Conservation Foundation
www.acf.org.au
The Nature Conservancy Australis
www.natureaustralia.org.au
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
www.australianwildlife.org
Australia's Strategy for Nature
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/conservation/strategy
Department of Conservation, New Zealand
www.doc.govt.nz
ECO
www.eco.org.nz
NRM Jobs (Australia)
www.nrmjobs.com.au
Global
Conservation Job Board
www.conservationjobboard.com
The Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers
Biodiversity Professionals
www.biodiversityprofessionals.org
Careers in Nature Conservation
www.facebook.com/groups/1116238188424571
Conservation Jobs
www.facebook.com/conservationjobs
Conservation Careers
www.conservation-careers.com
Conservation Optimism
www.conservationoptimism.org
Environmentjob
www.environmentjob.co.uk/jobs
Youth at the United Nations
www.un.org/youth
Wildlife Conservation Society
www.wcs.org
BirdLife International
www.birdlife.org
Working in conservation is a common aim for someone keen to work in the environment sector and this career choice feels like a direct response to wanting to make a difference.
There is a lot of crossover between this sector and those in consultancy and NGOs, as significant conservation work is delivered through NGOs, and consultancies have growing employment for conservation and ecology professionals.
As policy and legislation grows in the sector, so do the number of jobs.
Lucas, Gora and Alonso (2017) note:
‘Conservation is now a primary goal of most national governments as indicated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s implementation of the strategic plan for biodiversity conservation (Convention on Biological Diversity 2011) and with 187 countries committing to decreasing carbon emissions at the 2015 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Conference. With these extensive commitments to conservation worldwide, the need for well-trained scientists and managers in the field of conservation is at its highest.
Due to the global nature of conservation, positions in conservation management and research are based in countries with different levels of economic development (hereafter development). Level of development often has a large impact on a country’s strategy and ability to address conservation challenges.
Countries with developing economies often struggle with a perceived trade-off between economic growth and conservation (Czech 2008) and may not have sufficient funds to meet conservation needs.
Advanced economies may have more funds available, and organizations frequently collaborate with the private sector to create positive conservation outcomes (Robinson 2012).’
Career and Job Links
UK
British Ecologists
www.facebook.com/groups/847369591966377
UK Ecology Jobs and Courses
www.facebook.com/groups/860839280999125
Conservation Careers Advice - Top Ten Tips on how to get a job in conservation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpmyQLg5Mjg
Peter Lynch (2009) ‘Wildlife & Conservation Volunteering: The Complete Guide’, Bradt Travel Guides
Malcolm L. Hunter, David Lindenmayer and Aram Calhoun (2007) ‘Saving the Earth as a Career: Advice on Becoming a Conservation Professional’ Wiley Blackwell
HOW TO GET INTO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. Zoology degree, volunteering, working with animals.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cepkBw4iZY
Steph Into Nature
www.stephintonature.com
Mark Carwardine (zoologist and conservationist)
How to get a career in conservation
www.markcarwardine.com/advice/careers-in-conservation.html
James Borrell, Conservation Biologist
www.jamesborrell.com/how-to-get-a-job-in-conservation-and-love-your-work
Europe
Rewilding Europe
www.rewildingeurope.com
European Commission – Species protection
www.ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/index_en.htm
IUCN - Europe
www.iucn.org/regions/europe
Conservation International Europe
www.conservation.org/places/conservation-international-europe
Society for Conservation Biology – Europe
www.conbio.org/groups/sections/europe
European Outdoor Conservation Association
www.outdoorconservation.eu
Asia
Society for Conservation Biology – Asia
www.conbio.org/groups/sections/asia
Wildlife Conservation Society – Asia
www.wcs.org/our-work/places/asia
Squires, D. (2014), Biodiversity Conservation in Asia. Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, 1: 144-159. doi:10.1002/app5.13
Africa
African Conservation Foundation
www.africanconservation.org
Rhett Butler, Mongabay (2019) Transforming African conservation from old social cause into next-gen growth market
www.news.mongabay.com/2019/09/transforming-african-conservation-from-old-social-cause-into-next-gen-growth-market
Conservation Jobs: Africa
www.facebook.com/groups/1774928439290236
North America
Ecological Society of America
www.esa.org
Conservation International
www.conservation.org
www.conservation.org/about/conservation-international-jobs
Student Conservation Association
www.thesca.org
ESA Community LISTSERVs - ECOLOG-L:
www.esa.org/membership/ecolog
(requires account and login)
A Rocha Conservation Internships
www.arocha.ca/conservation-internship
Paul Greenland and AnnaMarie L. Sheldon (2007) ‘Career Opportunities in Conservation and the Environment’ Checkmark Books
Government of Canada Job Bank – Conservation Officer in Canada
www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/summary-occupation/3202/ca
Ecojobs
www.ecojobs.com
www.ecojobs.com/environmental-internships.htm
Land Trust Alliance – land conservation jobs
www.landtrustalliance.org/list/land-trust-job-board
National Wildlife Federation
www.nwf.org/Home/About-Us/Careers
Ornithology Exchange
www.ornithologyexchange.org/jobs/board
Biggest Tip for Careers in Wildlife Biology and Ecology - Fancy Scientist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG8vfFPItks
Conservation Job Board (USA):
www.conservationjobboard.com
The Wildlife Society
https://careers.wildlife.org/jobseeker/search/results
CJB Network
www.cjbnetwork.com/search/category/wildlife-science
How To Become A Wildlife Biologist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyuP6K0Tu2Y
Ecological Society of America
www.esacareercenter.org
South America
Society for Conservation Biology – Latin America & Caribbean
www.conbio.org/groups/sections/latin-america-caribbean
OECD (2018) Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use in Latin America
www.oecd.org/publications/biodiversity-conservation-and-sustainable-use-in-latin-america-9789264309630-en.htm
The Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/latin-america
Oceania
Australia Conservation Foundation
www.acf.org.au
The Nature Conservancy Australis
www.natureaustralia.org.au
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
www.australianwildlife.org
Australia's Strategy for Nature
www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/conservation/strategy
Department of Conservation, New Zealand
www.doc.govt.nz
ECO
www.eco.org.nz
NRM Jobs (Australia)
www.nrmjobs.com.au
Global
Conservation Job Board
www.conservationjobboard.com
The Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers
Biodiversity Professionals
www.biodiversityprofessionals.org
Careers in Nature Conservation
www.facebook.com/groups/1116238188424571
Conservation Jobs
www.facebook.com/conservationjobs
Conservation Careers
www.conservation-careers.com
Conservation Optimism
www.conservationoptimism.org
Environmentjob
www.environmentjob.co.uk/jobs
Youth at the United Nations
www.un.org/youth
Wildlife Conservation Society
www.wcs.org
BirdLife International
www.birdlife.org
