Procurement foresters must purchase timber for manufacturing different products such as furniture or paper. Many foresters work for the federal government. Urban foresters help the community in numerous ways, obviously by doing more than just making trees look good. Urban foresters aid in improving air quality, reduction of storm water, and energy consumption. The majority of us enjoy taking camping trips and other recreational retreats in the forest.
Since foresters cover many aspects of nature, they are divided up in different categories such as soil conservation, native species, wildlife management, and urban forestry. For example, foresters may find ways to improve land conditions deciding where to plant trees, deciding how many of them to plant, and learning the best way to ensure they grow properly. Sometimes forests can become overgrown and need to have a controlled burn. Foresters must handle this and must also clear the forests of debris and garbage because animals need a clean place to live also.
Education requirements for foresters should consist of at least a bachelor’s degree in biology, forestry, or environmental sciences. The Society of American Foresters accredits many colleges with forester degrees. Credential processing is also available is some states, but will require a four-year forester degree and several years of experience. Certification is available in addition to credential processing, which is done by the Society of American Foresters, and requires five years of experience to pass an exam.
New foresters work under more qualified and experienced foresters to understand all the aspects of their profession. After a couple years of reliability foresters may advance to positions with more responsibilities, such as resource management, and move up the ladder to supervisor roles. Foresters may want to branch out to other industries such as conservation scientists, environmental scientists, geoscientists, environmental engineers, and biological scientists.
Forester positions are expected to grow slightly over the next decade for various reasons. One of the reasons is that the fund to pay foresters is limited and the government is hiring private consulting firms to handle their forestry issues. Therefore, the best opportunities for foresters will be in the consulting field as it stands now.
Salaries of foresters will vary depending on location, experience, and level of education. The average salary of a forester is around $50,000 per year with the opportunity to advance in their career and earn as much as $75,000 per year. Those who start out as foresters in the federal government make around $30,000 per year.
Protecting a nation’s forest is a vital part in keeping society a thriving, successful one, because so much of our goods come from a nation’s forestry. Foresters are professionals who combine technical abilities with artistic abilities. Keeping a forest healthy, safe, and abundant is critical to the environment. With more trees in the world it will create many benefits for people and animals alike. A well-maintained forest is something we can all be proud of.
