Foresters & Forestry Careers

Forested lands are important to us both in terms of their economical and recreational value. Those who have a keen interest in forestry and environmental science can look forward to becoming a forester and contribute towards the conservation of our forested lands and wildlife habitats. Whether it is the conservation of wildlife or the management of forested lands, a forestry career proves to be quite demanding. Foresters are responsible for performing tasks including conservation of wildlife habitats, regulations of environmental laws, monitoring growth of trees, water quality, soil stability, urban forestry, pest management, appraisal and purchase of timber etc.

Being a part of our national heritage, forested lands and wildlife habitats need to be taken care of with all the responsibility and commitment. Forested land in a country may be owned by the public, the industry or individual land owners. To maintain the well being of these forests, we need foresters who ensure healthy and sustainable forests. It requires a lot of planning to conserve and manage the forested lands. A forester's job is to device plans to ensure safety to forests against pests, insects, diseases, wildfires etc. As part of their job, they also plan the planting of trees and their growth as well as cutting the timber according to the requirement. A forestry career, therefore, deals with forestry and conservation science. A forester's career is not only profitable and demanding, but a quite responsible one too in terms of protecting forests for future generations.

Depending on where they work, the duties of a forester may vary from place to place. Regeneration of forested lands, monitoring the progress and looking after the harvests are part of a forester's job. Foresters can also specialize in one particular area. The land management forester works out the planting of trees on new sites. These foresters provide counseling on where the trees should be planted and what will be the quantity of the trees being planted. Not only this, it is also a forester's job to keep an eye on the seedlings and ensure their healthy growth as well as deciding the best time for harvesting. Another forestry career specialization is the position of procurement foresters, responsible for negotiating the purchase of timber and a sale contract.

The procurement forester needs to keep an inventory of all the standing timber on a particular site. This inventory includes the type, quantity and the location of all this timber, the process referred to as timber cruising. With all the procurement and management work going on, it is the forester's job to conserve the wildlife habitats and look after the quality of water and soil.

Education/ Training Required for Forestry Careers
To kick start a forestry career, candidates need to be equipped with a bachelor's degree in forestry, environmental science or other related field. A bachelor's degree in natural resource management can also help you start and establish your career as a forester. Those who aim to join the teaching field will require a master's or a doctoral degree in the above mentioned subjects.

The Society of American Foresters has given accreditation to around 50 related degree programs across the country. Candidates can easily find colleges and universities where they can go for accredited degree programs in forestry, natural resource management, environmental science, ecology etc. The coursework of these degree programs emphasizes on ecology, biology, forest resources management, forest resources measurement and public policy. Additional certifications given by the Society of American Foresters can be useful in the advancement of careers in forestry. Eligibility criteria for this forestry certification include a forestry program bachelor's degree and 5 years of relevant experience. Other valuable forest management certifications can be obtained from organizations like the Society for Range Management and the Society of Wetland Scientists.

Work Environment, Career Outlook & Salary
A forester's job requires them to perform both field work as well as office work. Many of the foresters may also spend most of their time in the labs. A career in forestry is physically demanding, as professionals will need to work in different weather conditions. In an emergency, foresters will need to spend long hours of fieldwork. The median annual salary of a forester is $51,190. Around 14,000 more foresters' jobs are expected by the year 2016.