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Conservation Scientist

Environment

Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.

AgricultureScience

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
  2. 2Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
  3. 3Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
  4. 4Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
  5. 5Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
  6. 6Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.
  7. 7Gather information from geographic information systems (GIS) databases or applications to formulate land use recommendations.
  8. 8Participate on work teams to plan, develop, or implement programs or policies for improving environmental habitats, wetlands, or groundwater or soil resources.
  9. 9Compute cost estimates of different conservation practices, based on needs of land users, maintenance requirements, or life expectancy of practices.
  10. 10Develop or maintain working relationships with local government staff or board members.
  11. 11Revisit land users to view implemented land use practices or plans.
  12. 12Visit areas affected by erosion problems to identify causes or determine solutions.
  13. 13Provide information, knowledge, expertise, or training to government agencies at all levels to solve water or soil management problems or to assure coordination of resource protection activities.
  14. 14Enter local soil, water, or other environmental data into adaptive or Web-based decision tools to identify appropriate analyses or techniques.
  15. 15Analyze results of investigations to determine measures needed to maintain or restore proper soil management.
  16. 16Develop, conduct, or participate in surveys, studies, or investigations of various land uses to inform corrective action plans.
  17. 17Coordinate or implement technical, financial, or administrative assistance programs for local government units to ensure efficient program implementation or timely responses to requests for assistance.
  18. 18Respond to complaints or questions on wetland jurisdiction, providing information or clarification.
  19. 19Compile or interpret biodata to determine extent or type of wetlands or to aid in program formulation.
  20. 20Review or approve amendments to comprehensive local water plans or conservation district plans.
  21. 21Review proposed wetland restoration easements or provide technical recommendations.
  22. 22Develop water conservation or harvest plans, using weather information systems, irrigation information management systems, or other sources of daily evapotranspiration (ET) data.
  23. 23Develop soil maps.
  24. 24Manage field offices or involve staff in cooperative ventures.
  25. 25Initiate, schedule, or conduct annual audits or compliance checks of program implementation by local government.
  26. 26Identify or recommend integrated weed and pest management (IPM) strategies, such as resistant plants, cultural or behavioral controls, soil amendments, insects, natural enemies, barriers, or pesticides.
  27. 27Review annual reports of counties, conservation districts, or watershed management organizations, certifying compliance with mandated reporting requirements.
  28. 28Review grant applications or make funding recommendations.
  29. 29Develop or conduct environmental studies, such as plant material field trials or wildlife habitat impact studies.
  30. 30Conduct fact-finding or mediation sessions among government units, landowners, or other agencies to resolve disputes.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • DNR Officer
  • Farm Planner
  • Soil Surveyor
  • Conservationist
  • Range Ecologist
  • Range Scientist
  • Field Agronomist
  • Land Use Planner
  • Aquatic Ecologist
  • Botany Technician

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BiologyDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional ScienceDraws directly on Biology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • English Language85%

    English

  • Biology78%

    BiologyAdditional Science

  • Mathematics75%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Geography75%

    Geography

  • Customer and Personal Service71%
  • Chemistry70%

    Chemistry

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
  • Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedOften
  • Outdoors, in all weatherOften
  • Time walking or movingA little

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Apply herbicide to eliminate harmful plants.
  • Train staff and volunteers on park programs.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

27%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Agronomist / Agriculture Officer

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Conservation Scientists

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue