The environmental field is young, competitive and evolving every year as new technologies and policies come into play. It is diverse, interdisciplinary, and encompasses many types of professions and activities. In the past, careers in conservation or the environment were limited to a handful of game rangers, foresters, scientists and public health officials. Today a greater, and still growing, range of careers is available. Examples include: developing new pollution control technologies, participating in environmental impact assesments, studying the habitat of endangered species, teaching adults and children, or providing administrative, artistic and public-relations support to all of the above.

Perhaps the most exciting element about environmental careers is the people themselves. While environmental professionals come from all backgrounds and walks of life, most bring a love or passion for the environment to their work.

GUIDELINES FOR ACTION

Regardless of whether you are still at school, or fifteen years down the track in a particular career and wanting a change, the first step in exploring this rewarding field is to become a researcher: you will need to establish what career choices exist, the salary and opportunities for advancement they offer, possible study options and their cost, bursary opportunities, your own interests and skills, how you can develop them, the kind of work you would like to do...and more!

This leaflet offers some guidelines and tools for your investigation. Remember that this is a competitive field. Only you can provide the determination, persistence, and enthusiasm vital for success. Specific information, such as courses of study offered and jobs available, can be found in the material listed under "Further Reading", and by approaching the "Useful Contacts".

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Exploring, choosing and developing a career takes time and effort, and is a growth process for each individual. As you investigate the options open to you, pay attention to four important areas:

a) your interests and abilities;
b) education and training towards a career;
c) life experience;
d) job opportunities available to you once you qualify.

A starting point in gaining insight into these areas is to read widely. "Further Reading" below, lists informative publications which describe a variety of jobs, and the education and training they require. Magazines are invaluable as they deal with current environmental concerns, progress and activity, all of which help you to build a picture of this field.

TAKING THE INITIATIVE

Before beginning a course of study, and during your studies, take the initiative and responsibility for your personal, academic, skills, and vocational development:

* Write up your curriculum vitae (CV), take a clear look at the strengths and weaknesses that it reflects and work at developing strengths and improving weaknesses.

* Arrange holiday or weekend employment, either paid or voluntary - this allows you to develop a range of skills, to make contacts and to increase your confidence and self knowledge. * Develop contacts with people working in the fields of environment and conservation.

* Become involved with environmental societies, publications, and educational groups.

* Develop skills that may be of use in your career, e.g. photography, using a computer, writing, drawing and painting, teaching, bird-watching, plant identification.

* Never stop reading, talking and questioning.

DID YOU KNOW

* Delta Environmental Centre, the Umgeni Valley Project and Ben Lavin Nature Reserve (addresses below) offer holiday courses in "Careers in conservation."

CHOOSING A STUDY PATH

If you want to be a lawyer, go to law school; a doctor, go to medical school; an accountant, major in accounting; an environmental professional...well take your pick from any number of educational opportunities. Often the same job can be approached from several directions as educational preparation for the environmental professional is not as formalized as it is in other fields.

Choosing a course of study will involve weighing up your own preferences with the requirements of the job market. Whatever you choose, remember that a qualification alone will not support you in the job market. Practical, career-related experience to complement your course work gives you the edge over other students, as well as helping you make decisions regarding your career path. It is vital that you broaden, develop and build upon your formal studies so that on graduating, you have the qualifications, skills and vision to enable you to take on your chosen work. The suggestions listed above give some ideas as to how to do this.

INTERESTING CAREER OPTIONS

Resource economist
A rare, but increasingly important profession is that of the resource economist. If we are to reconcile the economic forces that drive our society with the concept of sustainable resource use, an understanding of the relationship between the two is vital. An economic rationale for conservation is now seen to be as significant as aesthetic, ethical and scientific rationales.

Environmental education
This rapidly developing field, is regarded by many as vital for improving the health of the planet. A range of options exists, including, running educational trails in the bush, developing educational resources, or managing an environmental education centre.

Journalists, authors and photographers
Growing demand for news and views on environmental issues is reflected in the abundance of newspaper articles, magazines and books dealing with global warming, endangered species, green consumerism, poverty and the environment, and population growth - to name but a few.

Perhaps the most significant realisation is that everyone can bring environmental concern into the professional decisions they make in their working lives.

FURTHER READING

CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. B. Hall. Westro, Johannesburg, 1991.

CAREERS IN ECOLOGY. South African Institute of Ecologists, 1992, address below.

CAREERS IN BOTANY. South African Association of Botanists, 1992, address below.

A CAREER IN ZOOLOGY. Zoological Society of Southern Africa, address below.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: CAREERS. South African Geographical Society and Society for Geographers, SAGS address below.

A CAREER WITH THE NATAL PARKS BOARD. Natal Parks Board, address below.

A CAREER IN CONSERVATION IN THE CAPE PROVINCE. N. van Wyk, September 1991. Available from Dept. Environmental and Cultural Affairs (previously Cape Nature Conservation), address below.

SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL COURSES. EPPIC, address below.

CAREERS IN THE ENVIRONMENT SPHERE. ESKOM, Environment Management Division, address below.

MARINE BIOLOGY AS A CAREER, in "The Living Shores of Southern Africa". M. and G. Branch. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, 1981.

THE GREEN PAGES: ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORKING AND RESOURCE DIRECTORY. WM Publications, Excom, 1991/1992.

WRITING YOUR OWN CV. M. Kowen. Legal Personnel Selections, Johannesburg, 1990.

A TO Z OF SOUTH AFRICAN CAREERS. A. Bryce (ed). Don Nelson Publishers. 1990. THE CAREERS OCTOPUS FOR UNIVERSITY GRADUATES. University of Cape Town Careers Office. 1985.

USEFUL CONTACTS

Careers counsellors at universities, technikons, schools and community centres.

Psychological Association of South Africa. PO Box 2729, Pretoria, 0001. Tel. 012-3261911 (mornings only).

Environmental Planning Professions Interdisciplinary Committee (EPPIC). PO Box 62041, Marshalltown, 2107. Tel. 011-8368618

Natal Parks Board. PO Box 662, Pietermaritzburg, 3200. Tel. 0331-471961.

Dept. Environmental and Cultural Affairs (previously Cape Nature Conservation). P/Bag 9086, Cape Town, 8000. Tel. 021-483 4227.

Gauteng Nature Conservation. P/Bag X209, Pretoria, 0001. Tel. 012-323 3403.

Dept. Agriculture and Environmental Affairs. PO Box 517, Bloemfontein, 9300. Tel. 051-405 4260 or 4262

National Parks Board. PO Box 787, Pretoria, 0001. Tel. 012-3439770.

South African Association of Botanists. P/Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001. Tel. 012-8043200.

Zoological Society of Southern Africa. Department of Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7600. Tel. 02231-773236.

South African Institute of Ecologists. PO Box 37618, Valyland, 7978. Tel. 021-7852056

South African Geographical Society. PO Box 128, Wits, 2050.

ESKOM. PO Box 1091, Johannesburg, 2000. Tel. 011-800 8111.

Delta Environmental Centre. P/Bag X6, Parkview, 2122. Tel. 011-888 4831.

Umgeni Valley Project. PO Box 394, Howick, 3290. Tel. 0332-303931.