In 1968 the global population of a small brown bird called the Seychelles Warbler, according to Nature Seychelles, was down to just 30 individuals. Habitat destruction and predation by introduced species like rats had driven the birds to the very edge of extinction and it was listed as critically endangered. Cycle forwards 50 years to
Ever wondered what it’s like to drop academia for a different kind of conservation adventure? ‘Mercenary biologist’ Dr Fernando Mateos-González – who we’re so thrilled to have join us in delivering our next Kick-starter online training for Early Career Conservationists course – did just that. Fernando is a Spanish biologist with a PhD in Behavioural
In this episode we’re speaking to a young, budding conservationist, Ruben Hoekstra, at the very start of his career. Ruben attended the prestigious Future For Nature Awards, where talented young conservationists from across the globe win support for their projects alongside a tasty cash prize of €50,000. Normally in these podcasts we speak with professional
Perhaps the ultimate way we recognise our dependence on nature is when we see biodiversity as the foundation for the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. That’s precisely the theme of this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity, which recognises the power of biodiversity to transform global food systems,
When you think about wildlife and conservation efforts, do you feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face? Saddened by the state of the planet and the rate of biodiversity losses? Upset by the volumes of plastic in our oceans, that slaughter of migratory birds over Malta? Or the clearing of our rainforest for palm oil? Or, do
Are you working in something totally unrelated to conservation and dreaming of switching into a career helping wildlife to flourish? Well that’s exactly what today’s guest has done successfully, and right in at the top. Dominic Jermey OBE worked as a senior British diplomat for over 20 years in countries such as East Timor and
When we first set up Conservation Careers, we wrote a post outlining ‘How to get a job in conservation’. Five years on, thousands of conservation jobs, and hundreds of interviews later, it’s time we updated it… So here’s the all-new ‘How to get a conservation job | Version 2:0’. Why getting a conservation job is
The Kick-starter for Early Career Conservationists is a proven step-by-step system to get clear, get ready, and get hired in the conservation sector. No confusion. No ambiguity. Complete hand holding. Telling you EXACTLY what to do. Walking you through the entire process. You’ll get a much clearer idea of the sector, the hot (and hidden)
What is the Masters in Global Ecology and Conservation at Cardiff University? Our Masters in Global Ecology and Conservation is a full-time, one-year course that has been developed to train the ecologists and conservationists of the future. The world’s ecosystems are facing significant challenges – from a growing human population and habitat loss, to plastic
As Conservation Careers grows, learns and evolves we have looked again at our conservation mission statement, vision and values. These are important because they communicate to everyone the key aspects of an organisation, provide focus and clarity. Together they help to make decisions, hold organisations to account and set the culture of an organisation. Important
Heather McFarlane is Former Director of Communications and Fundraising at the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and is responsible for growing the income and the number of supporters for the UK conservation charity. What are you most proud of achieving in your work? I’m really proud of our Big Bat Map, which is a website that
Dr Ada Grabowska-Zhang is the Course Director for the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Ecological Survey Techniques. Here she tells Conservation Careers about the exciting one year, part-time course providing the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to conduct effective ecological field surveys and data analysis for a range of key taxa… What is the Ecological Survey
With just 39 days to go till our special UK Conservation Career Starter Residential, we’re busy preparing for the four day retreat, and excited to share that we still have some places available. If you haven’t heard of our Conservation Career Starter Residential, it’s a unique training course jointly-run by Conservation Careers and WildTeam UK designed
In this episode we’re speaking to a rising star in conservation, Jack Randall. Jack is a global adventurer on a quest to find, study and promote the world’s most amazing animals. He began sharing his wildlife stories as a wildlife filmmaker and cameraman whilst traipsing through the jungles of the Amazon researching anacondas. And since
An exciting new book The Wildlife Blog Collection is now available to pre-order in time for Valentine’s Day! The Wildlife Blog Collection is a 300+ page compilation of 70 short stories submitted to Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018. It celebrates some of the most memorable, entrancing and exciting wildlife moments as told by top nature writers from across the
A conservationist’s account of fieldwork in Borneo – starring a bag full of his own poo – packs a powerful message of hope for biodiversity in heavily degraded, yet surprisingly resilient tropical rainforests, winning the 2018 Wildlife Blogger of the Year competition (sponsored by CC). Destruction of tropical rainforests often seems like a one-track countdown to biodiversity
The Iberian Wolf: It can smell and hear its prey from miles away, has a huge territory and, with a top speed of 30mph, can dart across a field in seconds. So to see one you’d have to be at exactly the right spot at the right time. This’ll be easy, we thought to ourselves.
As I apprehensively shuffled into the cage, my gut clenched and my heart stopped…I immediately knew that I was in a bad place, and I desperately wanted to run straight back out. But something stronger told me to carry on, and that by enduring the next hour in this awful place I could find hope
Conservation Careers sponsored Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018, a competition run by our partner Terra Incognita to raise awareness about our planet’s incredible wildlife through the power of storytelling. This captivating story about tracking lions in Namibia won author Asiem Sanyal the title of Judges’ Choice First Runner Up. To the majority of the
Conservation Careers sponsored Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018, a competition run by our partner Terra Incognita to raise awareness about our planet’s incredible wildlife through the power of storytelling. This captivating story about tracking lions in Namibia won author Josh Robertson the title of Readers’ Choice Runner Up. Heavy winds swept across the footsteps
I eagerly packed my luggage and camp-net – I’ve been longing for this field trip. In anticipation to meet my dream game species, I left home without taking breakfast. I was the earliest bird at the department car park patiently waiting for others to join me. Unfortunately, the bus developed a fault and affected our
My nostrils had already been assaulted by months of trekking through the Bornean rainforest with an Aldi bag-for-life full of my own poo. Such is the price of conducting research on dung beetles. The one bonus? I thought I had become immunised to bad smells. But the putrid stench of carrion slammed me like a
In this podcast episode we’re speaking to Dr Mike Clarke, Chief Executive of the RSPB. An organisation with over 1.2 million members, 2,000 staff and 13,500 volunteers, the RSPB is a Goliath in the conservation industry and needs no introduction. Mike became a member of the RSPB at age 12 and has worked professionally for them
Feeling lost in your conservation job hunt? Want to work in conservation, but don’t know where to start? Get your career on track in 2019 with career training from Conservation Careers. Whether you’re at university and planning your next steps, a graduate in the job hunt or working in an unrelated job but interested to switch into
If you’re looking for hands-on conservation experience but don’t know where to start or are feeling overwhelmed by choice; perhaps you’re mid-career looking to take a break from the grind and get back to nature whilst also exploring new career paths. Joining us this week to discuss these matters and more is Steve Gwenin, Chief
We recently got an email from a concerned user of our website which said: “I just wanted to voice a small concern or something that has irritated me a bit recently. You post entry level conservation jobs are often far removed from being ‘entry level’. A lot of these jobs require … anywhere from 3
The Kick-starter for Early Career Conservationists is a proven step-by-step system to get clear, get ready, and get hired in the conservation sector. No confusion. No ambiguity. Complete hand holding. Telling you EXACTLY what to do. Walking you through the entire process. You’ll get a much clearer idea of the sector, the hot (and hidden)
If you’re interested in wildlife conservation and concerned about the loss of species from this little planet of ours, then you’ve probably heard of a term called community-based conservation. But what is it? And how can wildlife conservation provide a pathway to helping people out of poverty? And finally, why have some of the poorest
Born Free is delighted to announce that SNARED, a new radio drama about an age-old conflict – the poaching of Africa’s wildlife – will premier in a synchronised broadcast on Saturday 10th November 2018. Taking place on the 23rd anniversary of Nigerian writer, television producer and environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa’s execution, the radio play will be aired
Have you ever dreamt about going on a conservation expedition? Travelling to a remote corner of the globe to explore and discover the wildlife found there? Where would you start? What would be the destination and what would be its purpose? Who would you choose to take with you? Perhaps most importantly of all, how
