Environmental conservation involves a range of activities from recycling household waste to habitat management. It does not simply involve ‘green issues’; it is about using scientific knowledge to produce a sustainable environment.
Conservation includes the protection of rural and urban landscapes, plants and animals and countryside recreation. The industry includes the conservation, protection and management of rivers, coastal zones and waterways.
Environmental conservation can include local issues such as community recycling, planning and parks; national issues such as pollution, roads and areas of outstanding natural beauty; and international issues such as global warming.
There are estimated to be 4,900 organisations in the UK environmental conservation industry. A large proportion of the workforce is voluntary, casual or part time with an estimated 56,100 paid employees in total working in this sector alongside 200,000 volunteers.
