If you can’t get enough of being outside, working as a rangeland manager might just be your career happy place. Though it sounds like a place farmers would hang out, the word "rangeland" doesn't refer to farmland or pasture. Instead, rangelands—which are defined as homes for grazing animals—have mostly native plants, as opposed to ones introduced by people. (Desert, forest, wetland, and prairie are just a few examples.) In this role you'd become an expert in things like soil quality, drought prevention, pest control, and wildlife protection. You might also find yourself helping resolve disagreements between conservationists, who want to protect the land, and people like ranchers or tree farmers who work off it. Rangeland managers are needed by government agencies, environmental groups, and research firms, as well as universities, where they work teaching students the tricks of their trade.
The Details
Rangelands can function as plant and animal habitats, recreational green spaces, and agricultural destinations—all seriously improving people's quality of life. A talented manager knows the best ways to treat the space so it's used smartly (for example, grazing cattle must be rotated through different areas), but also preserved for years to come.
About 47% of the world's land area is considered rangeland. (Hello, job security!)
