Career Opportunities for Geographers in Nature Conservation

Hülya Oralel; Oğuzhan Özkan; Alper Uzun

Article Details

Career Opportunities for Geographers in Nature Conservation

Authors:

Hülya Oralel | Oğuzhan Özkan | Alper Uzun

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Coğrafya Eğitimi | Ekoloji | Sürdürülebilirlik ve Enerji | Beşeri Coğrafya (Diğer)

Journal:

Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi Vol.29 Issue 52, pp.137-146

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001336613

pISSN:

1302-7956

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The geography profession, despite having a broad international employment scope, has not gained the necessary interest and importance in Türkiye. In line with this issue, the aim of this research is to determine the situation of geographers working or potentially able to work in protected areas and to highlight the importance and necessity of a truly needed profession. The semi-structured interview technique, which is a data collection technique used in qualitative research design, was employed in the research. In this context, interviews were conducted with people working at the Balıkesir Nature Conservation and National Parks Branch Directorate. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using MAXQDA 2024 software. According to the research findings, 34 codes were grouped under 4 sub-themes, which in turn were categorized into 2 main themes. The main themes were established as empathy and nature and individual and collective interaction. It was determined that there is no tendency for the employment of geographers in the institution. The employment of well-trained geographers in nature conservation activities is essential for a different and holistic perspective. Just as in developed countries, a system of employment and work that prioritizes geography and geographers, particularly in nature conservation activities, should be developed in Türkiye because there is no such thing as geographer job; rather there are multiple jobs that geographers do.

 The geography profession, despite having a broad international employment scope, has not gained the necessary interest and importance in Türkiye. In line with this issue, the aim of this research is to determine the situation of geographers working or potentially able to work in protected areas and to highlight the importance and necessity of a truly needed profession. The semi-structured interview technique, which is a data collection technique used in qualitative research design, was employed in the research. In this context, interviews were conducted with people working at the Balıkesir Nature Conservation and National Parks Branch Directorate. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using MAXQDA 2024 software. According to the research findings, 34 codes were grouped under 4 sub-themes, which in turn were categorized into 2 main themes. The main themes were established as empathy and nature and individual and collective interaction. It was determined that there is no tendency for the employment of geographers in the institution. The employment of well-trained geographers in nature conservation activities is essential for a different and holistic perspective. Just as in developed countries, a system of employment and work that prioritizes geography and geographers, particularly in nature conservation activities, should be developed in Türkiye because there is no such thing as geographer job; rather there are multiple jobs that geographers do.

 The geography profession, despite having a broad international employment scope, has not gained the necessary interest and importance in Türkiye. In line with this issue, the aim of this research is to determine the situation of geographers working or potentially able to work in protected areas and to highlight the importance and necessity of a truly needed profession. The semi-structured interview technique, which is a data collection technique used in qualitative research design, was employed in the research. In this context, interviews were conducted with people working at the Balıkesir Nature Conservation and National Parks Branch Directorate. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using MAXQDA 2024 software. According to the research findings, 34 codes were grouped under 4 sub-themes, which in turn were categorized into 2 main themes. The main themes were established as empathy and nature and individual and collective interaction. It was determined that there is no tendency for the employment of geographers in the institution. The employment of well-trained geographers in nature conservation activities is essential for a different and holistic perspective. Just as in developed countries, a system of employment and work that prioritizes geography and geographers, particularly in nature conservation activities, should be developed in Türkiye because there is no such thing as geographer job; rather there are multiple jobs that geographers do.

 Coğrafya, uluslararası anlamda istihdam alanı oldukça geniş bir meslek olmasına rağmen Türkiyede gerekli ilgi ve önemi kazanamamıştır. İlgili problem doğrultusunda bu araştırmanın amacı, koruma alanları kapsamında çalışançalışabilecek olan coğrafyacıların durumunu saptamak, gerçekten ihtiyaç duyulan bir mesleğin önemi ve gerekliliğine dikkat çekmektir. Araştırmada, nitel araştırma tasarımında kullanılan bir veri toplama tekniği olan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme tekniği kullanılmıştır. Bu doğrultuda Balıkesir Doğa Koruma ve Millî Parklar Şube Müdürlüğünde çalışan kişilerle görüşme gerçekleştirilmiştir. Görüşmelerden elde edilen veriler MAXQDA 2024 programında analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma bulgularına göre 34 kod 4 alt tema altında, alt temalar ise 2 tema altında toplanmıştır. Araştırmanın ana temaları empati ve doğa ile tekil ve kolektif etkileşim şeklinde oluşturulmuştur. Kurumda coğrafyacıların istihdamına yönelik bir eğilimin olmadığı tespit edilmiştir. Doğa koruma faaliyetlerinde iyi yetişmiş coğrafyacıların çalışması ve çalıştırılması farklı ve bütüncül bir bakış açısı için oldukça gereklidir. Gelişmiş ülkelerde olduğu gibi Türkiyede de doğa koruma faaliyetleri başta olmak üzere coğrafyanın önemsendiği ve coğrafyacının öncelikli olduğu bir istihdam ve çalışma sistemi geliştirilmelidir. Çünkü Coğrafyacı mesleği diye bir şey yoktur; daha ziyade coğrafyacıların yaptığı birçok meslek vardır.

Article Details

Career Opportunities for Geographers in Nature Conservation

Authors:

Hülya Oralel | Oğuzhan Özkan | Alper Uzun

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Coğrafya Eğitimi | Ekoloji | Sürdürülebilirlik ve Enerji | Beşeri Coğrafya (Diğer)

Journal:

Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi Vol.29 Issue 52, pp.137-146

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001336613

pISSN:

1302-7956

Nature conservation

protected area

geography

geographer

employmentDoğa koruma

koruma alanı

coğrafya

coğrafyacı

istihdam

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Hülya Oralel | Oğuzhan Özkan | Alper Uzun

Publisher: Ataturk University

Main Topics: Coğrafya Eğitimi | Ekoloji | Sürdürülebilirlik ve Enerji | Beşeri Coğrafya (Diğer)

Journal: Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi Vol.29 Issue 52, pp.137-146

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001336613

pISSN: 1302-7956

Issues

Authors:

Hülya Oralel | Oğuzhan Özkan | Alper Uzun

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Coğrafya Eğitimi | Ekoloji | Sürdürülebilirlik ve Enerji | Beşeri Coğrafya (Diğer)

Journal:

Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi Vol.29 Issue 52, pp.137-146

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001336613

pISSN:

1302-7956