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Occupations
in natural resources management are among the most widely recognized
environmental careers and usually offer the greatest opportunity to
work outdoors. As a result, this field also is the most competitive.
Professionals in natural resources management work on issues in land
and water conservation, protection, and planning. Some workers perform
research and analyze the results; others supervise parks and recreation
areas and enforce preservation laws. Their duties take them from wilderness
areas to urban communities working amid animals, plants, and insects.
Environmental impact is of growing concern as the population continues
to increase.
Wetland Ecologist
Wetlands help moderate the effects of flooding and drought, serve
as natural water treatment areas for chemical and silt removal, and
provide a habitat for fish and wildlife. Wetland ecologists are in
demand as past and continuing wetland destruction threatens nature's
form of water quality management. These professionals work on wetland
protection projects that require monitoring, sampling, analysis, research,
restoration planning and implementation, and mitigation (artificial
creation of wetland areas to offset the loss of natural ones). Wetland
ecologists in the field may have assignments such as sampling water
to monitor the quality of fish habitats or taking a census of birds
in a certain area. Other ecologists work on policy legislation or
review applications for replacing, restoring, or altering wetlands.
Where wetland ecologists work often determines their assignments;
in southern California, for example, many restoration projects that
have been in the planning stages are now ready to be carried out.
"Big mitigation projects are on the horizon here," says Joy Zedler,
Director of the Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory at San Diego
State University. Job duties also can change with employment situation:
Entry-level wetland ecologists in consulting firms are more likely
to work in the field than are Federal and State employees processing
permit applications.
Wetland activity is subject to funding, and ecologists become policymakers
to help control how the money is spent. "Wetland projects are very
much influenced by public spending," says Prof. Joseph S. Larson,
Director of the Environmental Institute at the University of Massachusetts
at Amherst. Although ecologists working in offices are still closely
involved with wetland activity, however, field workers are more likely
to see the results of their efforts. "This area is largely driven
by regulatory activities of the Stated and Federal Government," Larson
says. "Many people in the field are actually on the scene, making
the decisions about what the environment is going to look like for
years to come."
Employment and working conditions.
Employment estimates are unavailable because the counts include all
those working on wetland projects, not just ecologists. But the attention
to wetland depletion that has resulted in heightened public interest
is expected to continue, as is the need for workers. "In the last
5 years, work in wetlands has been increasing," says Larson. "Our
environmental problems are probably going to get worse, not better."
Zedler predicts a shortage of workers as wetland restoration takes
hold.
Most wetland ecologists work for private consulting firms. Others
are employed by State wetland regulatory agencies, State wildlife
and fisheries agencies, and Federal agencies such as the EPA, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Teaching
and research positions at universities are usually found in departments
of wildlife, fisheries, and ecology. In nonprofit organizations such
as the National Wildlife Federation and National Audubon Society,
wetland ecologists generally work on policy legislation. And some
are involved in international activities through organizations such
as the World Wildlife Fund and the International Waterfowl and Wetlands
Research Bureau. But like other fields experiencing a glut in the
number of doctoral students, says Zedler, there are not a lot of jobs
for Ph.D.'s in wetland ecology.
Wetland ecologists should be prepared to get into nature -- literally.
This is especially true of ecologists working on graduate research
projects and at entry-level jobs. "They are out in marches and swamps
and bogs, usually collecting data," says Larson. "They're working
with wetland, so they can't get very for from water." Zedler agrees:
"You have to like mud. You get very muddy." On the other hand, she
says, the appeal of working outdoors can clash with the reality of
its location. ""This is not pristine nature here; you're working in
places where the environment already is disturbed," she says. "Most
people are attracted to the work because they like the environment,
they like the outdoors, they like nature. But they find themselves
getting discouraged because they just have to watch it disappear."
Like other environmental professionals, wetland ecologists spend less
time outside as they gain more experience. "As (ecologists) move up,
they very quickly become involved in policy issues that keep them
pretty close to a desk," says Larson. "it's not the trees and
the birds that are causing most problems, it's the people."
Natural
Resources management positions, ecologist included, are competitive
for reasons other than money. Job satisfaction ranks high among
wetland workers as they tackle challenging, high-profile issues.
"It's an extremely motivated crowd," says John Kusler, Executive
Director of the Association of State Wetland Managers. "It's a profession
very much by choice." Starting salaries for wetland ecologists depend
on educational level, from a low of $20,000 a year in Federal, State,
and local agencies; a middle range of about $26,000 to $27,000 in
consulting firms; and the upper $30,000s for research positions.
Training requirements.
The minimum requirement for ecologists is a bachelor's degree in
ecological science or a related subject, plus field experience.
For wetland ecologists, a Master's degree is becoming the minimum
because of the field work component involved. "In fact, we're seeing
field experience becoming a factor in competing for graduate school
now," says Larson. No licensing or certification is required for
wetland ecologists, though some Stated have certification restrictions
for managing natural resources. The Society of Wetland Scientists
(www.sws.org) has started a certification
program, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is developing a certification
program for wetland delineators.
Section
1: Introduction
Section
2: Of Greening and
Greenbacks
Section 3: Environmental
Protection (previous section)
Section 4: Environmental
Health and Safety
Section 5: Natural
Resources Management (next section)
Section 6: Environmental
Education and Other Professions
Section 7: Technicians
Without 4-year Degrees
Section 8: Exploring
the Field
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