Rewilders

The employment outlook for all environmental science and conservation professionals is mostly strong. Here are the job outlooks for various careers in the field from 2020 to 2030 (according to the U.S. Department of Labor):

• conservation scientists: +6 percent (as fast as the average for all careers)
• environmental engineers: +5 percent (more slowly than the average)
• environmental science and protection technicians: +11 percent (faster than the average)
• environmental scientists and specialists: +8 percent (as fast as the average)
• foresters: +10 percent (faster than the average)
• soil and plant scientists: +10 percent (faster than the average)
• wildlife biologists: +5 percent (more slowly than the average)

The practice of rewilding remains controversial to some, but studies have shown that a properly implemented program provides many benefits. The International Union for Conservation of Nature describes the following benefits of rewilding:

“Rewilded ecosystems can help mitigate climate change by increasing carbon removal from the atmosphere and protect against climate change impacts by reducing soil erosion and flood risk, for example. Rewilded ecosystems can also create socio-economic opportunities for local communities, reduce the effects of and costs associated with environmental hazards (such as flooding), and improve human health and wellbeing by improving access to nature.”

With the continuing destruction and degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity, rewilding practices will increasingly be utilized to address these and other environmental issues. As a result, demand should be good for experienced rewilders.