I would like advice from the conservation community regarding career paths in conservation in Africa.
I have been given the opportunity to undertake a great PhD looking at human-elephant conflict from a primarily social science perspective. As an conservation ecologist with both wildlife research and community conservation management experience, I am interested in this issue and feel that it could be a good move, but I am concerned that it will lead me away from my desire to work directly with wildlife conservation issues in the future. My ambition is to ultimately work in a national park or reserve in Africa, while still engaging with local communities on CBNRM type projects but also hopefully running wildlife monitoring projects and other conservation activities. Would this be more the job description for a conservation manager rather than a researcher? I know that is not neccessary to have a PhD to become a conservation manager, but perhaps given the current trend in linking conservation with community development, the experience will be valued for this kind of job. My question is do you think that taking on this social science PhD will contribute or deviate me from my goal to work with on conservation in a National Park? Thanks for your advice! Tania
