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.
34 alternate job titles:
Salary Information
Foresters: $70,660 (median) per year.
Starting salary (10th percentile).
Required expreience: Varies by Company
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
| Task Description | Category |
|---|---|
| Assess compliance with environmental laws. | Analysis |
| Plan environmental research. | Analysis |
| Conduct research of processes in natural or industrial ecosystems. | Analysis |
| Develop plans to manage natural or renewable resources. | Management |
| Manage agricultural or forestry operations. | Management |
| Research crop management methods. | Management |
| Direct natural resources management or conservation programs. | Management |
| Coordinate forestry or agricultural activities. | Management |
| Advise others about environmental management or conservation. | Management |
| Cultivate land. | General |
| Negotiate sales or lease agreements for products or services. | General |
| Negotiate contracts for environmental remediation, green energy, or renewable resources. | General |
| Determine methods to minimize environmental impact of activities. | General |
| Plan natural resources conservation or restoration programs. | General |
| Inspect condition of natural environments. | General |
| Measure environmental characteristics. | General |
| Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources. | General |
| Negotiate contracts with clients or service providers. | General |
| Hire farming, fishing or forestry workers. | General |
| Obtain written authorization to perform activities. | General |
| Establish interpersonal business relationships to facilitate work activities. | General |
| Monitor environmental impacts of production or development activities. | Development |
| Develop educational programs. | Development |
| Develop agricultural methods. | Development |
Technology Requirements
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| ESRI ArcGIS software | Geographic information system |
| Geographic information system GIS systems | Geographic information system |
| ESRI ArcView | Geographic information system |
| Geographic information system GIS software | Geographic information system |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software |
| Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP | Web platform development software |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software |
| Forest Metrix | Inventory management software |
| Forest vegetation simulators | Analytical or scientific software |
| Forest yield software | Analytical or scientific software |
| Fountains Forestry TwoDog | Inventory management software |
| Global positioning system GPS software | Mobile location based services software |
| IBM Notes | Electronic mail software |
| Mapping software | Map creation software |
| Trimble CENGEA | Enterprise resource planning ERP software |
| Web browser software | Internet browser software |
| Work scheduling software | Calendar and scheduling software |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software |
| SMART service management and route tracking software | Data base user interface and query software |
Relevant Certifications
Industry certifications that may be valuable for this career role:
| Certification | Issuing Organization | Practice Test |
|---|---|---|
| A Sawyer | Forest Service | Not Available |
| B Sawyer | Forest Service | Not Available |
| C Sawyer | Forest Service | Not Available |
| Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist | International Society of Arboriculture | Not Available |
| Certified Forage and Grassland Professional | American Forage and Grassland Council | Not Available |
| Certified Forester | Society of American Foresters | Not Available |
| Certified Master Arborist | International Society of Arboriculture | Not Available |
| Certified Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist | International Society of Arboriculture | Not Available |
| Professional Wetland Scientist | Society of Wetland Scientists | Not Available |
| Sawyer trainee | Forest Service | Not Available |
| Tree Climbing | Forest Service | Not Available |
| Wetland Professional in Training | Society of Wetland Scientists | Not Available |