When people think of conservation, often images of trees, water or animals come to mind. Many are led to believe that working in conservation means being a biologist, land manager or researcher. But there is a whole other component of conservation that many rising conservationists are not taught about: biocultural diversity. Chang Norman Liu is
Today we’re speaking with an old friend and colleague Ademola Ajagba, the Regional Managing Director at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for Africa. Ademola discusses the urgent challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, emphasizing the need for scalable solutions and partnership-based approaches for meaningful impact. He shares TNC’s mission, its’ conservation model, and strategies for
When living in a world where decisions are based on a cost-benefit analysis, one challenge becomes clear: how can we define a monetary value for the many environmental, social, and economic benefits provided by the ocean? Kaija Barisa, Senior Economist at Blue Marine Foundation (BMF), is working to find an answer to this question. In
Why is communications so important for conservationists? What communications skills are employers are looking for? And how can you start developing these skills, today? We answer these questions and more in this special edition of the Conservation Careers Podcast. Sir David Attenborough said that “Conservation is now a communications challenge”. Awareness of this challenge is
As a career switcher, I have a very personal understanding of the misconceptions that surround working in the conservation sector, especially when it comes to ‘breaking into conservation’. I can relate to that feeling of despair brought on by the natural assumption that the only way in is to go via the costly and time-consuming
Does it seem like conservation jobs have a million requirements? Are you worried that you’ll have to spend ages getting experience or training to be competitive – even for entry level roles? Are you tired of submitting applications with zero feedback? We asked our conservation community about the biggest barriers they face to working in conservation – and ‘Becoming competitive
We’ve reopened the doors to our popular Communications for Conservation Projects course! Learn how to plan and deliver effective communications activities, making you more employable and impactful as a professional conservationist. Join by 31st May for 33% off!
Have you ever caught yourself feeling too small to make a difference? It’s a common experience among conservationists and, considering the severity of global issues including biodiversity loss, resource exploitation, and climate change, it’s not surprising we feel overwhelmed. However, focusing on individual conservation stories it’s easy to see big changes can come from small
Meetings are a core part of our working lives, and yet studies have found that 50% of time spent in meetings is often wasted. When viewed as a whole that’s often billions, if not trillions, of dollars wasted annually, which could be put to much better use. But why do we spend so much of
“When enough people come together, then change will come and we can achieve almost anything. So instead of looking for hope – start creating it” – Greta Thunberg. In today’s world, the urgency for action is palpable. Biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution demand our attention, urging us to abandon the status quo. Yet, amidst
Are you fascinated by our feathered dinosaur descendants and have a curious, investigative mind? Then studying birds as an ornithologist might be the career for you. In this Ultimate Guide, we’ll show you how to become an ornithologist.
An island Nature Reserve where environmental conservation and industrial resource extraction go hand-in-hand? This may be hard to imagine but such a place does exist, and this is where Adam McVeigh calls home for two weeks, every month. As a Senior Environmental Scientist for Stantec consultancy in Australia, Adam works on a particularly unique island,
Have you considered going back to university and doing a Master’s Degree in order to become more employable within the sector? Perhaps you’ve looked at many programmes and wondered if they are tooling you up with the right skills employers value. In today’s podcast, we’re speaking with Dr Stephen Green who’s the course leader for
The Conservation Professional Development Programme is a totally new coaching programme proven to significantly improve the wellbeing, impact, and career direction of conservation professionals. Following successful pilots with The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB, we’ve launched our first public enrolment with 16 places available until 31st May. Who | The programme is targeted towards early and mid-career
Scientific writing requires details, data and absolutely no emotion, fostering credibility within journals. This approach ensures a rigorous foundation but often lacks the inspirational quality needed to engage a broader audience in conservation efforts. This is where Amber Hopgood bridges the gap between fact-based conservation and the need for greater understanding and support from the
The majority of environmental news is dominated by depressing, defeatist narratives that describe the decline of nature in every corner of the planet, with humans commonly blamed for this destruction. Helen and Christopher Neave challenge this, as 14 years ago, distressed by the environmental situation, they decided to take action. Although now ‘Make it Wild’
“I would love to see more wildlife influencers, and for them to be as popular and cool as fashion/lifestyle influencers” As of January 2024, around 62.3% of the world’s population are social media users. Communications have always been crucial for spreading conservation messages across the globe, but it seems that now, more than ever before,
In this episode, we speak with the Deputy Global Conservation Director at WWF International, Cristianne Close. Cris describes herself as ‘passionate about creating positive change in the world, especially aiming to make the impossible, possible’. We discuss how she gave up a fast-paced corporate career to follow her purpose and work in conservation. Now,
Evi Indraswati’s story doesn’t unfold amidst the sterile silence of a laboratory, but within the harsh realities of communities in Indonesia’s Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS), grappling with environmental degradation and unsustainable fishing practices. Witnessing their unwavering spirit and deep-rooted knowledge ignited a passion within Evi: to bridge the gap between these communities and
Are you fascinated by animals and have a curious, investigative mind? Then zoology – a branch of biology – might be for you. Find out how to become a professional zoologist!
Would you like to create better conservation impact during your career? The ability to design and implement projects to better protect species, habitats and sites is key to success within conservation. But only a small proportion of professional conservationists are formally trained in these essential skills. A well-designed and adaptively managed project can make a
Do you remember the first time your passion for the environment felt nurtured? Was it after an education workshop or outdoor experience with an educator? Did you make a change of habit after it? If you do, chances are those educators are thrilled the same way Yolanda Sánchez is, every time she finishes an activity!
Have you ever felt like escaping the rat race and travelling the world? Seeking impact, adventure and new experiences? Perhaps volunteering for nature conservation organisations, and setting yourself for a career change or education when you return? But with the world as your playground … where do you start? How do you plan such a
A key to success within conservation is the ability to design high-quality projects to protect species, habitats and sites. But only a small proportion of professional conservationists are formally trained in the essential skills of project design and management. With limited time and money available within the sector, it’s no surprise that employers are increasingly
Picture a wild savanna, teeming with life. Millions of insects hum in the dense undergrowth, birds flock in the skies, and elusive mammals can be glimpsed through the tall grasses. You might be picturing lions and giraffes, but this is not Africa. It’s the Cerrado savanna in central Brazil, and it’s in critical danger. Brazil’s
Does it feel like you’re trapped in a ‘catch-22’? You need conservation experience to land a conservation job… but you need a conservation job to get experience! We asked our conservation community about the biggest barriers they face to working in conservation – and ‘Getting conservation experience’ was the #1 challenge. While other job sectors have clear
Have you ever looked back on your life and wondered how you ended up where you are now? You too? Join Charlotte Daniels, then! Charlotte is a Primatologist based in Nairobi, Kenya. She currently works as a United Nations Volunteer for the UN Environment Programme, working on the Vanishing Treasures project and supporting the Secretariat
Increasingly, the private sector is taking a growing interest in their impact on wildlife, and this could lead to a much-needed step change in conservation efforts. But why do companies care about nature? How can they assess and minimise their impacts? And what sort of jobs are opening up for conservationists seeking to work in
Tucked away in a remote corner of southwestern Uganda lies a hidden gem, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional biodiversity, it is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. A forest oasis in the midst of one of Uganda’s poorest and most densely
How do you raise nearly $169,000,000 per year to protect and conserve America’s 420+ National Park Sites? Sites important for recreation, education, and the conservation of endangered landscapes, natural communities and species. We discuss this, amongst many other things, with Lise Aangeenbrug. Lise is the Chief Program Officer at America’s National Park Foundation, the official
