C A R E E R I DE AS
CONSERVING OUR FUTURE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I love nature (plants and animals) and wanted to contribute to conserve nature by making it my profession. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I have a National Diploma in Nature Conservation and BTech degree from CPUT. The national diploma is a 3-year course and the BTech is 2 years part time. I also have a Master’s in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from UWC. The field of conservation has grown over the years and people now have the option of choosing a more operational career, like becoming a field ranger or reserve manager. Or you can go into the science side, focusing more on research and data collection. IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED? If you choose a conservation career in the operational side, you have to be willing to work in different
weather conditions – rain, wind, heat. It requires physical work and getting dirty! Do not choose conservation because you don’t want to work with people; people will always be part of conservation and you will end up managing, training, teaching and working directly with people.
EXPERIENCE VS FORMAL TRAINING? Formal training is very important as conservation has now become a science, using the latest technology, such as drones and software to analyse data. But you also need practical experience to know how to collect information and respond to certain environmental issues. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY AS A NATURE GUIDE Our company is involved in a broad spectrum of conservation-related tasks – we do conservation training, manage alien clearing teams in the field and collect scientific data. I participate in all the above.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT? I can plan a conservation project that will benefit nature as well as humans, execute it and see the results. It is wonderful to teach people about nature and then see how inspired they are after the talks. WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR WORK? Humans have a negative impact on nature and the environment, and our actions are destroying the earth. It is sad to see the deterioration of the environment. WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? I was fortunate to work with the endangered African penguin for a few years. I loved working in the field with these creatures and trying to save the declining population. ANY FUTURE GOALS? I want to inspire a love for nature in people, so that every person contributes to conservation.
CORLIE HUGO NATURE GUIDE CONTOUR ENVIRO GROUP
ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNGSTERS? Try to complete some form of formal conservation training; these days there are so many options – skills programmes, certificates, diplomas, degrees, etc. But you can also build your practical knowledge by spending time in the field and observing nature. Go for a hike in the mountain or along the beach, you will notice animal tracks, find plant pollinators, and maybe even see a whale. YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Love for Nature!!
Contour Training Academy, based in Cape Town, has been fully accredited by CATHSSETA since 2015. We are managed and run by a very experienced team of conservation managers and mountain guides. We have trained over 2000 conservation personnel and mountain guides since 2017. If you like the outdoors, getting your hands dirty and saving nature, or teaching others about biodiversity, then the Field Ranger or Nature Guide Programme will be a good choice for you. You will have the
Applications for 2023 are NOW open. Apply by visiting www.hugenote.com
opportunity to learn about the ecological importance of South African biodiversity, visit local biodiversity areas, ecological burns, learn guiding skills, and how to communicate with your audience, among other great subjects.
Bachelor of Social Work Bachelor of Theology (distance learning) National Diploma: Early Childhood Development FET Certificate: Social Auxiliary Work FET Certificate: Child and Youth Care Work FET Certificate: Community Development For more information please contact applications@hugenote.com or 021 873 1181
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Tel: +27 (0) 21 023 0587 | Cell: +27 (0) 73 445 3285 Email: info@contourenviro.co.za contourenviro.co.za
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