What Are the Different Types of International Conservation Jobs?

For those interested in working to protect wildlife and/or natural resources, there are many different international conservation jobs available. Most of these will require a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field, as well as a significant amount of work experience, but they can be very rewarding for those who qualify. International conservation jobs typically fall into a few different broad categories, including scientific jobs such as biologists or ecologists, land-use planners and natural resource managers, or positions in education or advocacy. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and there are other very specialized positions available.

People who want to pursue a scientific-focused career will find many opportunities for international conservation jobs, often in research and analysis. Wildlife biologists, marine biologists, or ecologists all conduct research in many different environments around the world. The results of this research is then used in developing new environmental laws and policies, land management plans, and strategies for protecting wildlife and ecosystems. Other researchers might conduct analyses in areas such as renewable energy development in order to develop new methods for promoting the usage of different types of renewable energy around the world, such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric power.

Conservationists, land-use planners, and natural resource managers also find options for international conservation jobs. These three positions are often very similar, sometimes even used interchangeably though they do have some subtle differences, and they will often work together on projects. These people will often work together with communities around the world to help them plan for sustainable development, and write land-management plans that take the protection of biodiversity and sustainable resource use into account. For example, foresters are an example of natural resource managers that may work with people in a land-use planning capacity to determine how a publicly owned forest will be managed. Environmental consultants are similar, often making use of geographic information systems (GIS) in order to develp land management plans.

Environmental education and advocacy are two other common examples of international conservation jobs. Often, these types of jobs go hand in hand, as environmental educators often hope to inspire people to care more about the environment and take steps to protect it. These types of jobs are often found with nonprofit organizations that work around the world to encourage people to protect and restore wildlife, landscapes, and various ecosystems that are affected by development or poor land-use practices.