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Forester

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AVG. SALARY

$54,900

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

What They Do

Foresters Career Video

About This Career

Manages 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.

This career is part of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources cluster Natural Resource Systems pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Monitors contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
  • Plans and supervises forestry projects, such as determining the type, number and placement of trees to be planted, managing tree nurseries, thinning forest and monitoring growth of new seedlings.
  • Establishes short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
  • Determines methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
  • Supervises activities of other forestry workers.
  • Performs inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
  • Plans and directs forest surveys and related studies and prepares reports and recommendations.
  • Directs, and participates in, forest fire suppression.
  • Chooses and prepares sites for new trees, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear weeds, brush, and logging debris.
  • Procures timber from private landowners.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
  • Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

  • Overnight travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Area Forester
  • Unit Forester
  • Environmental Protection Forester
  • Fire Prevention Forester
  • Forest Practices Field Coordinator
  • Regional Forester
  • Resource Forester
  • Silviculturist — Establishes and cares for forest stands.
  • Urban Forester

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

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