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Cooperative Extension Service |
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Agricultural
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4-H Programs
Life Skills
Evaluation
Dale Bumpers College
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Forester
Foresters manage forested lands for a variety of purposes. Those working in private industry may produce timber from private landowners. Foresters who work for State and Federal governments manage public forests and parks and also work with private landowners to protect and manage forestland outside of the public domain. They may also design campgrounds and recreation areas. Foresters use a number of tools to perform their jobs. Clinometers measure the heights, diameter tapes measure the diameter, and increment borers and bark gauges measure the growth of trees so that timber volumes can be computed and future growth estimated. Photogrammetry and remote sensing (aerial photographs and other imagery taken from airplanes and satellites) often are used for mapping large forest areas and for detecting widespread trends of forest and land use. Computers are used extensively, both in the office and in the field, for the storage, retrieval, and analysis of information required to manage the forest land and its resources. Working conditions vary considerably. Although some of the work is solitary, foresters also deal regularly with landowners, loggers, forestry technicians and aides, farmers, ranchers, government officials, special interest groups, and the public in general. Some work regular hours in offices or labs. Others may split their time between field work and office work, while some -- especially independent consultants or less experienced workers -- spend the majority of their time outdoors overseeing or participating in hands-on work. Experience and Education A bachelor's degree in forestry is the minimum educational requirement for professional careers in forestry. In the Federal Government, a combination of experience and appropriate education occasionally may substitute for a 4-year forestry degree, but job competition makes this difficult. Fifteen States have mandatory licensing or voluntary registration requirements that a forester must meet in order to acquire the title "professional forester" and practice forestry in the State. Licensing or registration requirements vary by State, but usually entail completing a 4-year degree in forestry, a minimum period of training time, and passing an exam. Foresters who wish to perform specialized research or teach should have an advanced degree, preferably a Ph.D. |
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University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
Mission
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Disclaimer
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EEO
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Forests and rangelands supply wood products,
livestock forage, minerals, and water; serve as sites for recreational
activities; and provide habitats for wildlife. Foresters manage, develop, use,
and help protect these and other natural resources.