The following is an exerpt from UBC Forestry, describing the Natural Resources Conservation Program.
B.Sc. Natural Resources Conservation
Proud Winner of the Alfred Scow Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and Learning Environment at the University of British Columbia
Natural resources conservation is an important issue throughout BC, Canada, and the world. Conservation is the art and science of managing the natural environment, by carefully planning and perpetuating the "wise use" of natural resources. Conservation is concerned with the maintenance of habitats and the persistence of diverse natural resources including those in forests, grasslands, alpine areas, urban and agricultural areas, and aquatic systems.
As a society, we choose how we use our natural resources, and in what manner these uses will take place. Management practices recognize a variety of ecosystems, resources, and a balance among environmental, social, economic, cultural, and aesthetic values. A conservation scientist helps society make the best possible choices, and manages the resources and the people through a variety of means.
Students enter the multidisciplinary world of conservation science, preparing them for careers in the conservation of renewable resources, the management of protected areas, and landscape planning for both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They gain an understanding of the natural and social sciences underlying conservation, with an emphasis on communication skills and conflict resolution techniques. The highlight of this program is the Integrated Field School, an intensive four-month field course in the final fall semester. This program provides a partial basis for acquiring professional certification (Registered Professional Foresters or Registered Professional Biologists).
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