Conservation

Conservation Management is about addressing the needs of the natural heritage, countryside and environment, and the people who work and play in it, to the advantage of all concerned.

This necessitates a broad understanding of aspects such as habitat and species management, wildlife conservation, recreational provision and management, geology and geomorphology and land use and ecology.

The factors affecting the wider environment are constantly increasing and range from agriculture and forestry to recreation, urban development and population growth. These in turn have knock-on effects such as climate change, water and food shortages, habitat and species loss and the impact of non-native species.

Good management of the countryside is key to ensuring it is profitable for those who own and work the land but also accessible to the public. And to allow wildlife to thrive, it needs to be done sustainably.

Land-based industries are a specialism of SRUC and you will be well trained in how to deal with the current and future issues of countryside management and conservation. Students graduating from these courses can find employment as a Park Ranger or working for conservation and protection organisations such as the Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), and the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).