Land Managers Will Spend Much of Their Time Outside, Loving Nature is Important

Land management, according to Wikipedia.com is "the process of managing the use and development (in both urban and suburban settings) of land resources in a sustainable way." In layman's terms, a land manager develops and manages areas of land that have ongoing uses, such as mining areas or grazing land. In fact, the U. S. Bureau of Land Management offers positions in rangeland management. These jobs entail managing large tracts of public land that are used for livestock grazing. Those responsible for managing these land areas must make sure the land is used properly - that it's not overgrazed, that environmental precautions are taken, and that improvements, such as planting and fence construction, are done regularly.

Other opportunities for land management include forest management (both federal and state forests), state parks, wildlife preserves, and hunting areas. Land managers usually work in areas that could have a depleting effect on the land if not managed properly, which is why a manager is needed. The land manager makes sure that efforts are being made to replenish what is depleted. Often strict guidelines must be followed and the land manager sometimes has police powers over the land areas he manages. Land managers must maintain and preserve the area in which he is responsible for. Understanding the habitat and ecosystem is often crucial to properly maintaining these areas; therefore, land managers must know as much as possible about the land area they are responsible for maintaining.

The background required in order to be a land manager varies in accordance with the position; however naturally the more education and/or experience you have in a related field, the easier it will be to find work. The average salary for a land manager is around $50,000 a year. Again, this varies with experience and education. Often the Bureau of Land Management offers positions in land management in a lower capacity (such as a maintenance worker on managed land) that doesn't require a college degree. Then once you are employed, they offer further training in land management, giving employees the opportunity to further their education in the field while gaining experience at the same time.

Occasionally, a career in land management will require some travel, or even relocation in some instances. Most of the time, however, once you become responsible for a tract of land, it's yours to care for and maintain throughout the duration of your employment, or until the land situation changes.

For those who enjoy the great outdoors, becoming a land manager is an ideal opportunity. Keep in mind however, that although some work will be done inside in an office (such as writing reports and collecting data), much of the work will involve being outside and an active participant on the land you manage, which means you'll often be outside in varying temperatures and even during inclement weather. It's a career most suited for the hardy, outdoor types.