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Foresters

Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.

What you’d do

  • Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
  • Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
  • Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
  • Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
  • Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
  • Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
  • Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
  • Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.

Skills that matter

  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Complex Problem Solving

How to get there

Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree

Also called

  • Area Forester
  • Procurement Forester
  • Silviculturist
  • Urban Forester
  • District Forester
  • Environmental Protection Forester

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