Programs in conservation biology teach people the importance of species variety and protection. Students learn about habitat loss and its affect on species survival. They learn forest and wildlife biology. They also learn habitat structure and balance.

Did you know more than 1,000 species are known to have gone extinct in the last 400 years? Did you also know that the extinction rate has accelerated throughout human history? Although human activity is often the problem, we are also the solution. This is why conservation biology is important. It focuses on ways to protect and restore diversity of life on Earth.

In this program, you learn about biodiversity. This includes genetic diversity, and diversity among species and ecosystems. You also learn about threats to diversity such as habitat loss. This can be caused by water diversion or logging. Other threats include pollution, erosion, overharvesting, and invasive nonnative species.

With training in this field, you can work in wildlife management programs, nature preserves, government agencies, and environmental consulting firms. You can contribute to policy decisions that determine the future of biodiversity on a local, national, or international scale.

Very few community colleges offer a two-year program. With this preparation, you can work as a field crewmember, or technician. A few colleges in the U.S. offer a bachelor's degree program. These take four years of full-time study beyond high school.

Senior positions, particularly in research, require at least a master's degree. A master's degree may take about six years beyond high school to complete. A Ph.D. may take an additional two to three years. A few universities offer a graduate program in conservation biology.

Graduate students usually choose to focus on a specific branch of ecology or ecosystem. Some specializations include:

• Aquatic Conservation
• Biological Ecology
• Fisheries and Wildlife
• Landscape Ecology
• Natural Resources
• Spatial Ecology