About Works for Nature

Works For Nature produces independent research, reporting, and practical resources to support the conservation workforce and the funding that sustains it. Through data-driven analysis and community platforms, we work to build a stronger, more effective conservation field.

Research & Reports — Reports, articles, and supporting content on issues related to the conservation workforce and funding.

Field Resources — A practical hub for conservation professionals including content related to career development and gear recommendations.

Community & Outreach — We manage online communities dedicated specifically to conservation professionals (over 230K members), creating spaces for peer support, information sharing, and collective insight into workforce challenges.

• Wildlife Science Career Network
• Marine Biological Career Network
• Environmental Education Career Network

Political Tracker — A curated tracker of federal and state legislation, ballot initiatives, and political developments that are driving changes in the workforce and funding.

• Conservation professionals and supporters seeking insights and ways to get involved in advancing the field.
• Employers and human resource staff tracking job, salary, and funding trends.
• Conservation professionals needing tools, resources, and mutual support.
• Funders, policy makers, and advocates who care about the capacity behind nature conservation.

Conservation is a workforce. Every conservation initiative — from wildlife recovery to public lands management — depends on people and funding to achieve success. Conservation workers and adequate resources enable us to protect, steward and study nature. When jobs and funding are created, conservation can achieve more. Conversely when jobs and funding are cut, conservation takes a step backwards.

But it's not enough for conservation to simply have workers. A successful workforce needs a means to build its capacity. Research, reporting, and communication networks enable capacity building to happen. A successful workforce also needs to represent the diversity of the society it seeks to serve. And lastly, conservation must pay livable wages to its workforce.

Works for Nature was founded by conservationist Rob Goldstein in 2025, after fifteen years working at the center of conservation hiring and career development. In 2010, Rob created Conservation Job Board , which has become a leading employment platform in the field. In 2019, he launched the Wildlife Science Career Network and Marine Biology Career Network to help early-career professionals.