CONSERVATION ADVISER

Salary

Graduate with experience: £18,000 - £27,000
Employee with 10-15 years in the role: £25,000 - £35,000
Senior Post (responsibility for staff, policy development): £35,000 to £45,000

Main Employers

• Government Bodies: Defra, English Nature, Environment Agency, Countryside Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage
• Local and Regional Government
• Consultancies
• Charities: Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, National Parks Authorities
• Nature Reserves, National and Country Parks, Private Estates

Job Profile

Conservation Advisers provide practical advice to farmers, land managers, voluntary and private organisations on landscape and wildlife conservation. This advice can include suggestions for conserving existing landscape, wildlife and historical features, encouraging the promotion of conservation locally. The work involves assessing the wildlife and landscape value of different habitats and making appropriate recommendations for management. A Conservation Adviser needs to be variously agriculturist, ecologist, researcher, diplomat, mediator and troubleshooter. Conservation Advisers need not only to understand agricultural and ecological systems but must be able to translate often complex issues into easily digestible forms.

Role and Responsibilities

Jobs will vary according to each employer. However you could expect to be involved in but not limited to:
• Organising talks, visits, demonstrations and conferences
• Promoting understanding and appreciation of the conservation of the countryside
• Obtaining financial support and grant aid for conservation schemes
• Sitting on committees
• Writing reports and articles
Qualifications

Relevant Degree and HND subjects include:

• Agriculture
• Agricultural Accounting
• Biology
• Botany/Plant Science
• Business Studies
• Earth Science (Physical)
• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Geography
• Land/Estate Management
• Planning
• Rural Resource Management
• Surveying
• Sustainable Development
• Veterinary Science

Career Opportunities

Since the Foot and Mouth epidemic, much attention has focused on the state of the countryside that is under management by the farming community. Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will afford further opportunities for jobs in an advisory capacity within faming communities. New broad and shallow funding schemes should change the way farming is done, from high intensity production to greater sustainability.

Countryside Advisers promote the greater integration of landscape and nature conservation into land management among farmers, landowners and other land managers. As with many other environmental roles, there is much to do in this area.