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Environmental Restoration Planners Make Positive Changes to the Environment

If you are interested in environmental issues and would like to work in a similar field, you should consider a career as an Environmental Restoration Planner. This position is ideal for those who like being involved in restoration projects, and who sincerely want to make positive changes in the environment.

An environmental restoration planner is one who oversees the implementation of restoration projects. This position sounds simple enough, but there are a variety of duties associated with it and an environmental planner must wear many hats. If you were to make environmental planning your career choice, you might find yourself visiting potential restoration sites and making assessments or plans for future projects. You might need to collaborate with biologists or other scientists in order to develop plans that meet all state or federal environmental regulation requirements. You'll need to be good at collecting and analyzing data to determine restoration needs. You might need to conduct environmental impact studies in order to examine the ecological effects of pollution or human habitation in certain areas. You'll also have to conduct cost-benefit studies in order to make sure it's feasible to move forward with restoration projects. These are just a few examples of the many duties you might be expected to perform as an environmental restoration planner.

What are some of the projects involved in restoration efforts? Environmental planners participate in a wide variety of restoration projects, including native tree restoration, radioactive site cleanup, restoring previously drained swamps, restoring fish to rivers that had been previously drained for irrigation, and returning wildlife to areas formerly destroyed by forest fires, just to name a few examples. Many other restoration projects are underway all across the United States; all require environmental planners in order to make these restoration projects a success.

Other duties associated with this job might include applying for permits, making budget decisions, and supervising employees. With all these duties, it's no wonder environmental restoration planners make an average salary of just under $100,000 a year. The education requirements are usually a bachelor's degree in environmental studies (either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). This is usually a position that often requires working your way up through the ranks, however, so even if you have the educational requirements, you still need the experience in order to command the responsibilities and salary this job entails, and experience can only be gotten by working at a lower position and awaiting advancement opportunities. Still, if you have at least a master's degree, you might be able to start a bit higher up the ladder, making your wait for the environmental restoration planner's position a bit less.

All in all, it's a great field for those with the drive to succeed. Although competition is stiff, if you have the ability to get things done in a timely manner, plus the personality to work well with others, as well as a genuine desire to make positive changes in the environment, you might find that you do very well with this career choice.