Odds of Hanging On
The profession of conservationist (and its related fields) is not expected to grow as rapidly as other professions. But people who are conservationists are passionate about what they do, and their dedication and enthusiasm seems to touch those around them.
The point is that even if the field may not be growing as fast as some other professions, there will always be a need for people who know (and want to know more) about protecting and preserving the natural world around us. Besides, the USDA and the BLM aren't going anywhere anytime soon….