In graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in International Development Management and with a specialisation in International Nature Conservation, you will have acquired a solid basis in applied conservation and restoration work. Whether by making use of your agroecology know-how, your understanding of policy for global biodiversity protection, or your use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), you can contribute practically to the conservation efforts of non-profit organisations, governmental agencies or social enterprises around the world.
What can you become?
Graduates of International Nature Conservation go on to work with international or local nature conservation organisations, governmental agencies, certification bodies, and companies focused on sustainable supply chains and nature restoration. You might work on nature restoration projects in the field, become a policy advisor for sustainable land use, or facilitate multistakeholder collaboration for biodiversity protection and climate adaptation.
Project or programme manager
In this job, you work on a programme focusing, for instance, on landscape restoration or wildlife protection. You will do this for organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Wetlands International, or Mangrove Action Project. Together with your team, you ensure effective and inclusive conservation practices for ecosystems and biodiversity.
Consultant or junior expert
As a consultant or junior expert, you can work for municipalities, companies or international organisations such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). You will deal with issues such as biodiversity loss, sustainable production, or inclusive conservation. You will do research on how these organisations can better mitigate ecosystem degradation and adapt to a changing climate. With input from all relevant stakeholders, you provide advice on new projects and collaborations.
Business owner
Have you started your own social enterprise after graduation? Then you combine your deep understanding of both nature restoration and sustainable development to create innovative solutions that contribute to community livelihoods as well as to ecosystem protection. You might develop an app that helps local farmers manage their land and care for their crops while increasing biodiversity, or provide GIS services for mapping deforestation.
Lobbyist
If you have ‘lobbyist’ on your business card, you advocate changes at higher levels. For instance, you lobby governments and companies to support policies and practices that prioritise nature conservation. Or you take action at the United Nations or the European Commission to strengthen international biodiversity targets around the world.
