Why You Should Complete Land Based Studies 

If you’re a lover of nature, be it wild animals, plant life, the oceans or mountainous regions, you might feel that starting a career that indulges these passions would require you to study either flora or fauna respectively. However, the ever-escalating need for sustainability and natural life protection has given rise to an all-new area of focus which covers each of these areas and more: land based studies. 

Many important areas of focus fall under the umbrella of ‘land based studies’, including Agriculture, the Environmental, and Animal Care sector, all of which have been studied or worked in independently for years. Now, land based studies enable you to gain vital skills and knowledge in each of these areas, which can lead to some of the most crucial and innovative careers in existence to date.  

If you like the sound of a career that is driven by a love of the natural world and sits on the forefront of innovation, read on to find out more about why you should consider obtaining land based qualifications. 

The Growing Issue with Land Based Activities 

It’s safe to say that the world we live in has evolved rapidly. This coupled with the population continually growing at an alarming rate has resulted in increased pressure to meet people’s changing needs swiftly in all corners of the globe. 

While this has had an effect on all industries, snowballing food and water shortages, increasingly inefficient food security and distribution, declining public health and the growing concerns for environmental sustainability have all brought the need for improved land based industries to the forefront.  

Prior to this realisation, not much thought had been given to how our progression affected our land and, ultimately, the existence of life in the future. This dire situation has sparked the need for environmental and land based studies, to find solutions to these escalating problems. 

What is Land Based Studies? 

The term ‘land based’ traditionally references businesses and activities that are linked to our land and environment, such as conservation, farming and food production, forestry, horticulture, landscaping, and animal and equine care. 

As such, land based education is the scientific and practical study of these industries, with a focus on educating, training and skills development ahead of working in land based industries.  

In most land based science courses, you will study agriculture, animal care and the environment in relation to effective management and custodianship of farmlands, forests and wildlife. This is with the aim of giving you a detailed understanding of the issues contributing to climate change and deteriorating wildlife populations. You will also learn about the importance of well-balanced biodiversity and how imbalances in nature can significantly impact the rest of life on earth.   

A part of your land based studies can also include exploring the: 
 

• Biology 
• Chemistry 
• Physics 
• Mathematics 
• Statistics 

All of the above relate to ecology, animal biology and environmental management. For this reason, studying environmental and land based science will equip you with the knowledge and skills for a broad range of dynamic and industry-leading careers. 

Careers in the Land Based Sector

If you like the sound of land based studies as a lead-in to a rewarding career path, you’ll be pleased to hear land based careers are incredibly diverse and provide ongoing stimulation to those who thrive on a challenge.  

As technology and science evolve, many land based industry jobs combine the understanding of the natural world with the use of cutting-edge science, engineering and information technology. So, there will always be something new to learn and new tools to overcome current and arising problems.  


A short list of land based jobs includes: 

Animal Land Based Jobs

Animal life is vital to the existence of humans and, like the varied animal kingdom, there is a large variety of careers you can work in within the animal care sector. If you’re passionate about animals, you could pursue opportunities in the: 
 

• Veterinary field 
• Pet care retail 
• Dog and animal grooming 
• Boarding and training 
• Wildlife rehabilitation 
• Animal sanctuaries 
• Nature reserves 
• Zoos and wildlife parks 
• Aquariums 

Land Based Aquaculture  

The consumption of fish, despite being healthier than other meats, is also far more sustainable. This is because fish caught in the wild don’t need deforestation to feed, take up land that could otherwise be used for another purpose, or have any chemical intervention to grow.  

There are, though, severe environmental consequences to harvesting wild fish on mass. A solution that has arisen from the need for more sustainable practices in this area is land based aquaculture, or ‘fish farming’ as it is otherwise known. By working in this sector, you would help produce sustainable seafood so that our natural water environments can thrive. 

Many individuals working in this sector work as Fisheries Managers, Inspectors and Ecologists.  

Land Based Engineering

If you want to combine both your passion for nature with a love of technology, becoming a Land Based Engineer would be ideal. In this exciting and dynamic career, you put your skills and knowledge into the creation of improved Agri-Tech, which is the new technologies used to advance the agricultural, horticultural and wider land based sector.  

Sustainability in food production and net carbon neutral targets are creating a surge in technology for modern agriculture. From GIS-based agriculture to driverless tractors, you can become a part of the workforce that is helping to imagine, create, commission and maintain the tools and machinery of the future. 
 

Farming 

Where the farming of fish can be removed from our oceans, seas and rivers so that life in these natural environments can thrive, the rest of the farming industry doesn’t have this same opportunity. The farming of animals and crops is limited to the land, which is why an entirely new set of solutions are required to address the challenges in land based farming. 

Without these farms, we wouldn’t have most of our food, clothing or biomass fuel, but we need to find the balance between fruitful farming production and the impacts on the ecosystem.  

As the growing of crops and raising of livestock is such a technological and mechanised industry, it needs everyone from Entrepreneurs to Engineers, Scientists and Technologists to work within it. By exploring the science behind the processes, new methods of maintaining the environmental benefits of farming can be discovered that also: 
 

• Increase yields 
• Reduce the end price for the consumer 
• Continue to meet the challenges of climate change and our rising world population 

If you want to start any of these important land based careers, you will need to study our environment to gain an appreciation of the best ways it can be helped and sustained. 

Study Land Based Courses Online

While there are many land based colleges offering courses that require physical attendance, this makes the study of this vital area inaccessible to learners who already have existing commitments like work or childcare.  

By developing your land based skills and knowledge through online courses, you can learn on your terms when it suits you. Animal Courses Direct offers a number of Ofqual regulated online land based training courses, to help you get the industry desired skills and knowledge ahead of an exciting and rewarding career.  

These online land based training courses include: 

Level 3 Diploma in Sustainable Wildlife Conservation and Biodiversity Management 

Study the importance of soil, vegetation, and the climate to wildlife conservation and biodiversity. This online land based course also equips learners with vital hands-on skills through a 2-week practical training placement in a Game Reserve in South Africa. 

Level 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership

Learn how to lead a nature-based school programme that teaches learners about the structures of woodlands, the identification of a range of flora and fauna, and develops their overall appreciation for their natural surroundings. 

Level 3 Diploma in British Wildlife Rehabilitation Studies

Become an active custodian of our wildlife by studying British wildlife care and rehabilitation. In this online land based course, you will learn how to safely capture, treat and release injured wildlife, along with the importance of recording and monitoring British wildlife species. 

We are constantly adding courses to our offering. For these and more, check out our land based studies course category page. 

Enrol Now

If you aspire to work in environmental and land based industry jobs, Animal Courses Direct can help you gain the skills employers are looking for through our range of Ofqual regulated online land based courses.  

Find out more today by speaking with our Course Advisors on 01202 006 040, contacting us online or clicking below to view our land based courses in more detail!

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