Conservation Scientists
On the Job
Conservation Scientists work to manage or protect natural resources like soil, wetlands, forests, or rangelands. They may instruct farmers on the best ways to use land, or they may conduct soil surveys to develop plans to reduce soil erosion.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Measure environmental characteristics.
- Research crop management methods.
- Research livestock management methods.
- Research impacts of environmental conservation initiatives.
- Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
- Develop agricultural methods.
- Develop collaborative relationships between departments or with external organizations.
- Assess compliance with environmental laws.
- Communicate with the public on environmental issues.
- Review environmental permits, plans, or reports.
Typical Working Conditions
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Dealing with external customers.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
- Working outdoors exposed to weather.
- The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.

This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.