Example Career: Conservation Scientists

Career Description

Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.

What Job Titles Conservation Scientists Might Have

• Conservationist
• Land Resource Specialist
• Research Soil Scientist
• Resource Conservationist

What Conservation Scientists Do

• Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
• Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
• Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
• Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
• Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
• Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.
• Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations.
• Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources.
• Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, or life expectancy of practices.
• Develop or maintain working relationships with local government staff or board members.
• Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans.
• Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions.
• Provide information, knowledge, expertise, or training to government agencies at all levels to solve water or soil management problems or to assure coordination of resource protection activities.
• Enter local soil, water, or other environmental data into adaptive or Web-based decision tools to identify appropriate analyses or techniques.
• Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management.
• Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans.
• Coordinate or implement technical, financial, or administrative assistance programs for local government units to ensure efficient program implementation or timely responses to requests for assistance.
• Respond to complaints or questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information or clarification.
• Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation.
• Review or approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans or conservation district plans.
• Review proposed wetland restoration easements or provide technical recommendations.
• Develop soil maps.
• Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures.
• Initiate, schedule, or conduct annual audits or compliance checks of program implementation by local government.
• Identify or recommend integrated weed and pest management (IPM) strategies, such as resistant plants, cultural or behavioral controls, soil amendments, insects, natural enemies, barriers, or pesticides.
• Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, or watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements.
• Review grant applications or make funding recommendations.
• Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies.
• Conduct fact-finding or mediation sessions among government units, landowners, or other agencies to resolve disputes.
• Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data.

What Conservation Scientists Should Be Good At

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

What Conservation Scientists Should Be Interested In

• Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

What Conservation Scientists Need to Learn

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.