Conservation and Community Engagement
Conservation and community engagement is a discipline that addresses the preservation of the natural environment through direct engagement with the people and communities on whom conservation depends. Effective conservation is not simply a scientific or technical challenge; it requires the active support, understanding and participation of the communities that live alongside the habitats and species being protected, as well as the policy frameworks, economic incentives and governance structures that shape what is and is not possible. The field draws on ecology, biology, social science, development studies and environmental ethics to develop practitioners who can work at this complex intersection.
At Anglia Ruskin University this programme takes a practical approach to conservation, developing your understanding of both the ecological science underpinning conservation work and the community engagement skills needed to work effectively with diverse stakeholders. The programme runs full time over three years and is designed to develop graduates who can contribute to conservation practice in the UK and internationally. You will study topics spanning species conservation, habitat management, community development, participatory research methods, environmental communication and the legal and policy frameworks that govern conservation practice.
You will develop skills in ecological survey and monitoring, community engagement, research methods, project management and professional communication. The combination of scientific and social competence is central to effective conservation practice, and the programme reflects this.
Graduates from conservation and community engagement programmes move into careers in conservation organisations, national parks, wildlife trusts, environmental NGOs, government agencies, international development organisations and community-based conservation projects in the UK and abroad. Many also pursue postgraduate study in conservation science, environmental management, community development or related fields as the route into specialist or research-oriented careers.