Naturally Yours!!!

THE term natural resources refer to a broad spectrum of what can be called `environmental assets'. The list includes air, water, land, plants, animals and micro-organisms. These individual assets are not isolated; they are linked together to form natural systems of varying scales such as rivers, lakes and wetlands, estuaries and coasts, forests, fields, geological systems and resources and mountains.

The term `integrated catchment management' is often referred to in relation with natural resource management.

Natural resource management combines economics, policy, and science, to study, manage and restore natural resources and ecosystems.

Because of its interdisciplinary nature graduates find careers in all sectors including private, public, academic and nonprofit interests in areas such as conservation biology, resource economics, environmental law, and public policy. The field is applicable in wilderness, recreational, agricultural and urban areas to sustain and support fish, wildlife, and plant communities in addressing problems associated with the management of natural resources.

Natural resource managers help balance the needs of people and economy with the ability of ecosystems to support soil, water, forests, wildlife, fish, and recreational resources.

Most career options include forestry, land use planning, plant taxonomy, geographic information systems, field crops-production principles, surveying, park and recreational area management, natural resource measurements, wildlife ecology, water management and conservation, cultural anthropology, hydrology, Conservation Engineering, Environmental Law, Soil Morphology and Hydrogeology.

Qualifications

One can major in Agriculutural science, Animal Science, Ecology, Geography, Resource Economics, and Plant or Soil Sciences as most programs do not offer a degree in Natural Resource Management .

A specialisation in environmental studies /Environmental Science is also useful. The Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad, offers training in environment education. The programme imparts training to develop educators who can identify environment issues and draw up strategies to manage these at all levels.

The course duration is of 9 months and eligibility is a post graduation in any discipline. The course includes training in wasteland development, water conservation, forest management, pollution, health and sanitation, eco development, big and small dams and protected areas.

Work

Natural resource management is fundamentally about people since environmental issues cannot be tackled in isolation.

There is a need to look beyond individual problems, and take account the links within and between natural systems.

Natural Resource Management graduates can make careers in all sectors of the workplace, including private, public, academic and nonprofit interests, in areas such as conservation biology, resource economics, environmental law, and public policy.

What really determines the success in this field is the level of community involvement and the adoption of ecologically sustainable practices across the community.

PAROMITA PAIN

paromita-pain@yahoo.com