Conservation
Career Diploma

Understanding the relationships between organisms and their environment; principles of ecology; the ecosystem defined; the two laws of energy; food chains of various organisms; the biomes: forests, grasslands, tundras, and deserts.

How population growth rates are determined; overpopulation and its effect on the environment; methods of birth control; comparing population trends of different countries; solutions to the population problem.

Where soil comes from; the importance of fertile soil development; the characteristics and composition of different kinds of soil: loam, gravel, sand, silt, and clay; soil structure; determining quality in good soil and poor soil; the soil profile; ten major classifications of soil.

Problems threatening usable farmland; critical issues concerning land use; natural and accelerated erosion; factors affecting natural erosion including rainfall, soil structure, and topography; erosion control practices; soil fertility conservation; synthetic fertilizers.

Understanding the world hunger crisis; undernutrition and malnutrition; increasing the efficiency of food production; strategies for overcoming hunger; genetic, chemical, and electronic ways of producing food; reducing pest damage; how new food sources are being developed.

Factors contributing to shortages of water; phases of the water cycle; oceans, groundwater, surface water, and evaporation; problems with the water supply; the environmental impact of floods and droughts; flood control; methods of irrigation; techniques for conserving water; ground water resources; desalination; rainmaking; iceberg harvests; water diversion.

Types of water pollution and their origins; how pollution is being controlled; classification of lakes; algae and weeds; over-production of nitrates and their effect on ground water; groundwater pollution; thermal and toxic chemical pollution; metal pollution; sewage treatment and disposal; new technologies for improving water quality; effects of oil spills; uses for sludge; disposal of industrial wastes.

Efficient techniques for conservation professionals.

The ecosystems of streams and lakes; the impact of weather and seasonal changes on lakes; the reproductive nature and cycles of fish; environmental factors affecting the lifespans of fish; controlling the fish population; laws protecting fish; populating aquatic systems; improving habitats for freshwater fish; removing undesirable fish; the pros and cons of creating artificial lakes; responsibilities of fisheries managers.

The problems caused by coastal erosion; methods of controlling coastal erosion; coastal marshes and wetlands; the marine ecosystem; three zones in oceans; food chains in oceans; types of ocean pollution and efforts to control them; the effects of dumping plastic and waste in oceans; dangers facing whales and porpoises; locating and harvesting fish; sea farming; the ocean fishing industry.

Growth characteristics of range grasses; types of grazing livestock; laws regulating range abuse; range composition: plant types and pasture conditions on ranges; duties of ranchers and range managers; techniques for rangeland improvement; insect and predator control; how ranges deteriorate.

The many uses of forests; methods of reseeding and planting; how reforesting is accomplished; timber harvesting; hybridizing trees; controlling forest pests; forest fires and wildfire; methods of fighting forest fires; AmericaÃ?s tree supply; the demand for wood products and paper; causes of tropical rain forest depletion; duties of the U.S. Forest Service.

Wildlife populations and the problem of extinction; dynamics of species populations; predators and parasites; factors regulating plant and animal population size; the dynamics of animal survival; habitat destruction and causes of a species decline; causes of species extinction; effects of hunting on animal populations; methods for preventing extinction; provisions of current legislation protecting endangered species.

Principles of wildlife management; types of wildlife habitats; animal movement explained (dispersal of young, mass emigration, and migration); organic and non-organic poisoning; why deer and waterfowl die; national wildlife refuges; protecting and controlling wildlife; duties of a wildlife manager.

The pest problem and its origin; types of chemical pesticides; benefits and hazards of pesticide use; environmentally sound alternatives to pest control; laws regulating pesticides; environmental pest management; pest control in farms, rangelands, and forests.

Types of municipal waste; solid waste management; approaches to recycling; the pros and cons of dumps, landfills, composting, and incineration; types of toxic waste and their effect on the environment; laws regulating waste disposal; managing and disposing of hazardous waste.

A manual to assist you in achieving your goals.