Rangelands: Multiple Uses, Multiple Careers
Rangelands ecosystems comprise nearly half of the Earth’s land surface and include grasslands, deserts, shrublands, alpine and arctic tundra, savannas, scrublands, marshes, and some types of open forests. Just as rangelands are diverse, so are the careers available in rangeland management. Some professional options are land managers, scientists, educators, producers, and conservationists.
Specialties exist in ecosystem science, wildlife and fisheries, restoration ecology, plant and soil science, hydrology, agricultural science and systems, and social economics. Rangeland professionals may work closely with landowners on private rangelands and with the public on national forests, grasslands, and other public rangelands. In addition to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, rangeland professionals assess and implement rehabilitation and land reclamation techniques following drastic disturbances such as wildfires, droughts, floods, and extractions of minerals, oil, and gas.
The majority of graduates of rangeland degree programs find employment with federal land management agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Department of Defense or state land and wildlife management agencies and conservation districts. Others find employment with non-government organizations such as land and livestock companies, land conservancies, restoration organizations, or mining and energy development companies.
Growing Demand for Rangeland Professionals
The job outlook for people seeking degrees in rangeland ecology and management is excellent. According to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current number of well-qualified rangeland professionals is not going to meet the workforce demands in the next 10 years. This means that skilled professionals with degrees in rangeland ecology and management are going to be in high demand. For more information about rangeland degrees, visit Universities and Colleges: Accredited Programs and Degrees.