Conservation is an Expansive, Open Field
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Conservation is a wide open field encompassing a wide range of fields, including geography, geology, hydrology, economic, and business. Successful students of the field must have a profound understanding of water and soil conservation, modern forestry methods, wildlife management, the effects and composition of pesticides, and even waste management. This isn’t a field for the faint of heart ? most graduates can testify to the essential messiness of working in the elements. It?s less of a major and more of a multi-disciplined, multi-leveled way of life.
There is not one definable factor at play in conservation and ecology. Like the weather, the panoply of forces at work serve only to obscure the root causes. Often, conservationists spend a great deal of time outdoors, in the wild, observing and logging the conditions of wildlife refuges, wetlands, even reservoirs. The less wild, yet precarious, corporate world is a pronounced employer of conservation and ecology graduates, using their eco-expertise to raise awareness of environmental issues, especially as it relates to the corporation’s compliance to EPA standards.
There is a tremendous range of careers a conservation and ecology graduate can qualify for, including work as a park ranger, wildlife biology assistant, nature specialist, conservation educator, marine life aquarium worker, horticultural aide, environmental lobbyist, grass roots organizer, zoological specialist, and more. It is a terribly popular field of study for students interested in entering the park service. Working for the park service includes clearing park trails, monitoring the pollution levels of soil and water samples, and studying the impact of campers. Conservation and ecology graduates in the park service are also responsible for sorting tree seedlings, ensuring they meet the standards for root formation, stem development, and healthy foliage.
Most ecological curriculums are tailored to address the balance that must be struck between maintaining and preserving the national forests and the logging needs of the commercial paper and logging industry. This balance bothers many conservational and ecological movements; the needs of a hungry market cannot be ignored. Though controversial, most academies and universities encourage ecologically based majors to explore business coursework. The nation’s natural abundance cannot be squandered, nor can it be left untouched.
The importance of this field of study cannot be diminished. It represents the fragile intersection of commerce and conservation, between what is necessary and what must be preserved. Today’s conservation and ecology graduates will be tomorrow’s eco-warriors.
