Expanding the Conservation Career Landscape:
Park Institute of America's concept of an interactive conservation career map is gaining momentum with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) division of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). This partnership represents a significant step forward to broaden the scope of conservation careers and create pathways for a more diverse generation of conservationists.
Our 4% initiative is going toward supporting the Institute in collaborating with SFI to map out these career pathways while providing research support for a new Learning Management System (LMS) plug-in being developed by Project Learning Tree (PLT). The primary goal of this LMS tool is to recruit diverse candidates into forestry and conservation careers—fields that are critical to the health of our planet but often overlooked by underrepresented communities.
While this initiative is more forestry-focused than traditional park conservation efforts, it aligns with a broader vision of what conservation can and should be. For years, Park Institute of America has been working to expand the definition of conservation beyond the usual boundaries. It’s not just about parks and protected areas—it’s about the interconnected web of professions that support and enhance the natural world.
PLT’s approach aligns perfectly with this philosophy. They recognize that conservation isn’t limited to park rangers and scientists; it includes a wide range of roles like outfitters, guides, lifestyle brands such as Wilderness Tribute, concessioners, and more. By incorporating these diverse professions under the conservation umbrella, they're opening up opportunities for people from all walks of life to contribute to the conservation movement.
As we move forward with this collaboration, we’re excited to see how these efforts will help diversify the conservation workforce and redefine what it means to be a conservationist. Conservation is for everyone, and together with partners like PLT and SFI, the Institute is making strides toward a more inclusive and expansive future for this vital field.
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