Behind the Scenes of Environmental Work: Professionals Share Real Issues

by Christin Bratton

Christin Bratton

I posed a question to the environmental community on 3/5/2026. The discussion continued through the F.I.E.L.D (Forum for Insight on Environmental Learning and Discussion) Series under the newly created F.I.E.L.D. forum hosted by myself. Attendees shared professional insight rarely dis cussed openly among environmental professionals.

The forum serves as a discussion community for people working in environmental and conservation spaces.

Members share conservation work, field experiences, professional development lessons, environmental concerns, and advice for people entering the field.

The discussion began with a simple question. “What issues are you noticing in the field right now and what issues have become more visible in your work or studies?” We continued the conversation during a scheduled evening Zoom session.

Environmental work often requires balancing ecological protection with economic realities. Participants repeatedly raised concerns about how companies approach environmental responsibility while meeting financial targets. Several consultants explained that entry level staff often man age heavy workloads while upper management delegates responsibility. One participant described frustration with leadership structures inside large consulting firms.

The individual stated, “When I worked for one of the big firms, half of the principals were useless. They brought no new or repeat work, and often I still had to bypass them to reach someone who could actually solve the problem.”

Compensation also surfaced as a major concern. Some participants explained that firms expand through acquisitions while field employees struggle with pay tied to billable hours. One contributor stated, “What’s most sickening is how the company keeps acquiring smaller firms at a rapid rate but won’t pay field employees unless you have 80 hours of billable work.”

Jeremiah Walker, who works in environmental compliance with stormwater and erosion and sediment control and also serves on the board of an organization providing environmental certifications and training, explained another structural challenge. Environmental projects often require specialized expertise such as archaeology. When firms lack these specialists internally, they subcontract the work. This structure means multiple companies may participate in one project. Workers in the field may see limited pay, while funds move through higher levels of the contracting chain.

Another issue involved enforcement authority. One participant working as a state regulator explained that agencies often lack direct enforcement power. The anonymous commenter wrote, “I’m a state regulator for streams and lakes and we have zero actual enforcement power. We can send threatening letters but enforcement relies on county prosecution.”

Despite these concerns, the discussion reinforced the value of professional dialogue. Environmental professionals rarely have spaces to openly discuss these realities.

Johannus Franklin, an attendee who works in water quality monitoring for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, similar to what New Yorkers recognize as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, offered a closing reflection. Franklin stated that people often respond when financial consequences occur. Education also plays a role. Informing communities about environ mental impacts remains critical.

The session ended with a difficult question. Can climate conditions be fixed within our lifetime? A two-person consensus suggested adaptation will become increasingly important as climate impacts continue.

If you are interested in attending future discussions, RSVP through website at terraonthebench.com. The group meets biweekly via zoom and the full schedule appears on the website and Google Calendar. These sessions are recorded and used to grow the environ mental community and the platform. You can view the recorded discussion on the website. The forum can be found at https://field.discourse.group/.