WHAT IS NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT?
Natural Resource Management combines economics, policy, and science to study, manage and restore natural resources and ecosystems. The field is applicable in wilderness, recreational, agricultural and urban areas to sustain and support fish, wildlife, and plant communities and in addressing problems associated with the management of our natural resources.
Natural Resource Managers help balance the needs of people and economy with the ability of ecosystems to support soil, water, forests, wildlife, fish, and recreational resources. Ideally, these professionals look for ways to make responsible natural resource management decisions which consider all stakeholders, including communities, agencies and business/industry.
WHAT ARE THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS?
Natural Resource Management students can expect to study an interdisciplinary core of natural and social science courses, usually including basic courses such as economics, public policy, biological sciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, communications, computers, ethics and philosophy. Students concentrate on the interrelation of these factors to help manage and restore sustainable ecosystems, such as forests, prairies and wetlands. Specific courses we've seen include:
- Limnology
- Microeconomics
- Information Technology
- Supervision and Leadership
- Forestry
- Land Use Planning
- Plant Taxonomy
- Geographic Information Systems
- Field Crops-Production Principles
- Surveying
- Park and Recreational Area Management
- Natural Resource Measurements
- Wildlife Ecology
- Water Management and Conservation
- Cultural Anthropology
- Hydrology
- Conservation Engineering
- Environmental Law
- Soil Morphology
- Hydrogeology
There are many Departments or Colleges of Natural Resources, but more often, Natural Resource Management majors are found within another department, such as Agriculuture Science, Animal Science, Ecology, Geography, Resource Economics, and Plant or Soil Sciences. Further, there are programs which do not offer a major or a degree in Natural Resource Management, but they do offer an emphasis or specialization within another major, such as Environmental Studies or Environmental Science.
CAREERS AND SALARY OUTLOOK
Natural Resource Management graduates will find careers in all sectors of the workplace, including private, public, academic and nonprofit interests, in areas such as conservation biology, resource economics, environmental law, and public policy. Specific job titles we've seen include:
- Environmental Consultant
- Lobbyist
- Nature Educator
- Aquaculture Consultant
- Conservation Lawyer
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- Ecologist
- Environmental Analyst
- Park Ranger or Naturalist
- Environmental Education Specialist
- Environmental Policy Analyst
- Fisheries Manager
- Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
- Urban and Community Planner
- Cooperative Program Trainer
- Soil Conservationist
- Forestry Technician
- Conservation Design Technician
- Backcountry Guide
- Seed Production Manager
- GIS Resource Planner
- Restorationist
- Wildlife Refuge Manager
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide a specific category for Natural Resource Managers. However, BLS reports that, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, graduates with a bachelor's degree in natural resources received an average starting salary offer of about $26,000 in 1999. In the related fields of conservation science and forestry, median annual earnings in 2002 were $50,340 and $46,730, respectively.
Numerous other BLS categories do apply to career opportunities for Natural Resource Management graduates, depending on their specialization and/or field of interest. Please visit their web site at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ for more specific information.
RELATED AREAS OF STUDY
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