Forestry Professionals
Modern forest management employs many “forestry professionals”, who are engaged in forest operations management. These natural resource professionals are equipped with both education and experience necessary to guide the decision-making and policy-making surrounding forest land management. These managerial forestry tasks are considered “professional,” because they depend on education-based knowledge combined with operational experience in their specific field-of-study. The forest professional is adept at their specialty to: problem-solve, technical science, prescription, interpret, assessment, judgment, compute, plan, monitor, optimize, negotiate, manage, supervise, and written & verbal communication.
These positions encompasses a wide range of specialties that demand professional jobs engaged in forest management and the projects needed to implement forest landowner objectives. Hundreds of forestry professionals work daily to plan, assess, decide, designate, administer, manage and monitor projects. These professionals coordinate with many—landowners, purchasers, managers, technicians, contractors, and other professionals—to implement projects important to manage the forest for renewable commodities and natural resource values.
Forestry professionals often are employed to advise and inform the management of valued forestland assets. At other times, these professionals are the managers or decision-makers who direct operations and programs. These jobs perform a unique combination of intellectually-demanding work that’s often located outdoors in the forest. Work may be alone independently, or in small groups. The professional spends much time engaged in assessment, analyzing, computing, reporting, and written 7 verbal communication. Some of the professional’s week is spent visiting ever-changing outdoor locations, walking over forested, rough terrain, and traveling to/from remote forest jobsites. Professionals often drive to forest jobsites using employer-provided vehicles (pickup truck or other high-clearance), and professional is typically responsible for its basic service and refueling.
These highly-sought jobs usually require a college degree, job-tailored or specialized training, as well as ample job experience. Occasionally, extensive job experience and demonstrated performance may substitute for a college degree. Becoming a proficient professional takes a tremendous amount of education, experience and dedication—often acquired by beginning at entry-level technician, crew, or supervisor jobs to learn the trade from experienced managers or professionals. A successful career in these jobs depends on combining experience, education and progressively more responsibility.
ARCHEOLOGIST
The forest archeologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of cultural, historic and pre-historic resources, and historic preservation on forestland properties. Forest archeologist is dedicated to sound anthropology and cultural science, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in archeology, anthropology, or cultural resources, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
BIOLOGIST - WILDLIFE / FISHERIES
The forest biologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of plants, animals, birds, fish, other biota, and their terrestrial & aquatic habitats on forestland properties. Duties may include ecology resources. The biologist position may be specialized to address either terrestrial wildlife, or aquatic fisheries. Conversely, the biologist position may be a generalist who deals with wildlife, fish, special plant species, and forest ecology. Forest biologist is dedicated to sound biologic science and species management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in biology or forest ecology, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
ECOLOGIST
The forest ecologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of abiotic and biotic ecosystems, invasive species, and species terrestrial & aquatic habitats on forestland properties. Duties may include biology resources. Forest ecologist is dedicated to sound ecologic science and ecosystems management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in ecology or biology, and related experience. Other certifications are possible (refer to Biologist).
ECONOMIST / ACCOUNTANT
The forest economist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the micro- and macro-economic implications of forest management activities conducted on forestland properties. Forest economist is dedicated to sound economic principles, financial & cost accounting, generally accepted accounting principles, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in economics, accounting, or forest management, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
ENGINEER
The forest engineer is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the design, construction, operation and maintenance concerning forest infrastructure—such as roads, logging-transportation systems, bridges, structures, drainage, facilities and trails—located on forestland properties. Forest engineers are dedicated to sound engineering principles and infrastructure effectiveness, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forest engineering and related experience.
ENTOMOLOGIST / PATHOLOGIST
Entomologist/Pathologist The forest entomologist/pathologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to healthy forestland property management of one or both specialized fields: “entomology”—the management of forest insect pests; or “pathology”—the management of forest diseases. Forest entomologist, or pathologist, is dedicated to forest health, sound science, and ecosystems management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forest entomology, forest pathology, or forest health, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
ENVIRONMENTAL / LEGAL COORDINATOR
The forest environmental coordinator is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to regulatory compliance with environmental laws during forest management operations. Coordinator assures legal requirements are accomplished for environmental protection, contracting, project design, liability, insurance, litigation, legal defense, environmental documentation & records, forest planning, and land use law. Environmental coordinator is dedicated to sound legal and business practices, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in business, environmental science, or forestry and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
EXTENSION / FOREST INTERPRETATION /EDUCATOR
Extension/Forest Interpretation/Educator The forest educator is a forestland professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the education of people about forest science, management, public uses, and benefits of forests and forestland properties. Forest educator is dedicated to sound educational principles, extension of knowledge about forests, interpretation and visitor administration, natural resource management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in education, interpretation, outdoor recreation or natural resources, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
FIRE MANAGEMENT OFFICER
The forest fire management officer is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the managed use of prescribed fire, the prevention of unwanted fires, as well as firefighting wildfires on forestland properties. Forest fire management officer is dedicated to sound fire science, climatology, air quality and fire management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forest fire science, forestry, or forest health, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
FOREST OPERATIONS BUSINESS MANAGER
The forest operations manager is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the business functions of a private forest management firm, such as accounting, personnel, asset management, financial & budgeting, forestry operations, harvest planning, stand management, contracting, logistics, legal matters, and so forth. Forest business manager is dedicated to sound business practices and applicable laws, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forest operations, business or management, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
FORESTER
The forester is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the forest growing, harvesting, protection, accessibility, productivity, and sustainability on forestland properties. Foresters are dedicated to sound forest science, management and conservation, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forestry and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPECIALIST - CARTOGRAPHER
The forest cartographer is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the electronic mapping, spatial data computing, remote sensing, and imagery interpretation applicable to the management of forestland properties. Forest cartographer is dedicated to sound geographic information management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in GIS systems or cartography, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
GEOLOGIST / GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER
The forest geologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of forest geotechnical engineering, geology resources, land movement, quarry and excavation on forestland properties. Forest geologist is dedicated to sound geologic science, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in geology or soil science, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS / POLICY - LOBBYISTThe forest policy lobbyist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the policymaking, lawmaking, forest planning and communication, surrounding government policies that govern forestland property management. Forest policy lobbyist is dedicated to sound representation of effective forest management policies and practices, ethical lobbying, accurate communication, business principles and balanced public policy, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in political science, forest management or public policy, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
HYDROLOGIST
The forest hydrologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the operations management of forest water resources—such as streams, wetlands, lakes, bogs, springs or watersheds—and aquatic habitat on forestland properties. Forest hydrologist is dedicated to sound hydrologic science and water quality management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in hydrology or forest watersheds, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SPECIALIST
The forest information technology (IT) specialist is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the electronic information storage, computing, database management, field data recording, software applications, internet services, optimization programs, mapping, and spatial data applicable to the management of forestland properties. Forest IT specialist is dedicated to sound electronic information management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer systems, or other related curriculum, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
LAND SURVEYOR
The forest land surveyor is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and techniques of surveying measurement, relevant law, adequate evidence, which are requisite to surveying of real property. Land surveyors are dedicated to sound surveying practices, and are credentialed by an Licensed Professional Land Surveyor.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
The landscape architect is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of aesthetic and visual resources on forestland properties. Forest landscape architect is dedicated to sound visual management science, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture or natural resources, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
LOGISTICS / TRANSPORTATION / FOREST PLANNER
The forest logistics planner is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the allocation, scheduling, transportation and movement of forest products, workers, equipment, resources or materials—surrounding the management of forest projects and forestlands. Forest logistics planners are dedicated to sound transportation, logistics principles and planning effectiveness, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in operations management, logistics, transportation or engineering, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
OUTDOOR RECREATION DIRECTOR
The forest recreation director is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the public uses of forests for enjoyment, lifestyle, aesthetics, cultural values, user access, or recreational opportunities on forestland properties. Forest recreation director is dedicated to sound outdoor recreational science, natural resource management, interpretation and visitor administration, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation or natural resources, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
PUBLIC FOREST ADMINISTRATOR
The forest public administrator is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of a government agency engaged in forestlands. Public administrator is dedicated to sound forest science, management, conservation and public policy, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in public administration, planning or forestry, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
PUBLIC RELATIONS / COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
The forest public relations manager is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the external and internal communications of a forest organization. Public relations manager is dedicated to sound journalism principles, technical writing, environmental documentation, presentations, information technology, and communication about forest management, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, political science or forest management, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
RANGE CONSERVATIONIST
The forest range conservationist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the grazing management of forage resources located on forestland properties. Conservationist responsible for natural resource protection, forage utilization, grazing allotment planning, wildlife habitat, and wise use of forage for livestock and other ungulates. Range conservationist is dedicated to sound range science, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in range conservationist or forest range resources or range ecology, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
REALTY / FOREST APPRAISAL SPECIALIST
The forest realty specialist is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to forestland management of real property, such as land sale transactions, land exchanges, easements, share-cost agreements, special use permitting, land appraisals, relevant title law, and land use law. Forest realty specialist is dedicated to sound business practices and real estate law, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in business or real estate, and related experience. Other certifications are possible (licensed real estate agent or appraiser).
SECURITY OFFICER
The forest security officer is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the crime prevention, property security, legal enforcement, detection & investigation, and natural resource protection on forestland properties. Forest security officer is dedicated to sound crime prevention practices and criminology science, and is credentialed by extensive security training and employment or a degree in criminology, and related experience. Other law enforcement certifications are possible.
SILVICULTURIST
The silviculturist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the forest growing, harvesting, protection, accessibility, productivity, and sustainability on forestland properties. Silviculturist is a specialized type of ‘forester’, who is focused on diagnosis, prescription, forest health, and reforestation. Silviculturist controls establishment, growth, health and harvest of forests to meet the needs and values of forest landowners on a sustainable basis. Silviculturists are dedicated to sound forest science, engineering, management and conservation, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forestry, extensive related forest management experience. Other certifications are possible.
SCIENTIST - FOREST
The forest scientist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the scientific study of forest management operations on forestland properties. A forest scientist position typically has education and experience in one of the other natural resource professions—such as biology, hydrology, engineering or forestry. The scientist coordinates activities surrounding monitoring, effectiveness studies, compliance reviews, quality control, which occur to observe forest operations and/or to support applied forest research. Forest scientist is dedicated to sound scientific method, research principles, and natural resource management, and is credentialed by a bachelors or masters degree in engineering, biology or another forest discipline, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.
SCIENTIST - SOIL
The forest soil scientist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of forest soil & rock resources, site productivity, excavation, and soil behavior during operations on forestland properties. Forest soil scientist is dedicated to sound soil and geologic science, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in soil science, geology or agronomy, and related experience. Other certifications are possible.