Prior to the industrial revolution, many believed that the Earth had a limitless supply of natural resources, fuel, and land. But recent reports from scientific experts all over the world seem to suggest that our consumption habits are depleting these resources faster then we ever could have imagined. As natural disasters, ozone depletion, species extinction, and energy crises continue to happen with greater frequency, expect to see more demand for graduates of natural resources and conservation college programs.
Natural resources and conservation are branches of environmental science that deal with studying the harmful effects of manufacturing, population growth, and waste management. College programs expose associate and bachelor students to areas such as forestry, fuel management, mining & ore extraction, metallurgy, wildlife protection, computer science, public policy, legislation, and other areas germane to environmental conservation. After school, graduates tend to gravitate towards various branches of environmental science, including forestry, energy conservation, meteorology, manufacturing, and political science.
Depending on what branch of conservation one decides to pursue, he or she might enjoy either high or diminishing demand. Job opportunities for conservation scientists, geoscientists, and foresters, for example, will actually decline in the coming years. However, opportunities for environmental scientists will grow much faster than the national average for other occupations.