Environmental Jobs | Forestry Jobs | Conservation Job
Forestry Career - What is the Job of a Forester? What is a Conservation Job?
Conservation scientists and foresters manage the use of wood, minerals, and water, in addition to the land in general, in order to provide habitats for wildlife and products for commercial use.
Forestry programs may specialize in soil conservation, pest management, forest economics’, and wildlife management.
Foresters can work for the Federal or state government, or private individuals or corporations. When foresters work for the government, they maintain the integrity of National Parks and make sure that the forests stay healthy and free from disease and harmful insects, in addition to fires.
Forestry jobs also involve being responsible for making decisions on when to cut timber and when to plant trees.
When forestry technicians advise individuals or corporations, they are mostly responsible in helping to manage tree farms, which supply wood product across the American continent.
Paper products and lumber no longer come from depleted forests, but from tree farmers who plant plantations of forest, and then harvest and replant these trees.
Land management foresters may also guide the burning of specific areas of forests in order to maintain healthy growth, and prevent larger fires years later. Pest control is also a growing responsibility of conservation scientist jobs, as invasive pets from other continents in fact American trees, and have no natural predators on the American continent.
Working Conditions for Foresters - How is the Working Environment in the Field of Forestry Jobs?
The working environment of forestry careers can be a physically demanding experience. Foresters must often investigate specifics stands of trees, in order to check for health and pests.
Conservation scientist and foresters frequently have to work overtime during the fire season, as well as overtime in areas that experience floods, and mudslides, in order to protect the soil and landscape.
Most foresters work about 40 hours a week, but these will frequently involve four 10 hour days, as opposed to a normal 9 to 5 workweek.
Forestry work is fairly safe.
Forestry Education - Train to Become a Forester - How to Receive Your Education as a Conservation Scientist
Forestry training requires a bachelor’s degree in forestry, environmental sciences, or a similar field, although a bachelor’s degree is not necessarily required if an individual has experience.
Most Federal research positions require a forestry doctorate, and most universities have degrees in forestry. An organization responsible for accrediting forestry programs is the Society of American foresters.
Forestry degrees and conservation scientist education involves ecology, biology, forestry, resource management, and silvaculture.
Range managers are a specialty within the conservation scientist career, and these are responsible for managing specific aspects of range science, with only nine colleges in America offering degrees in range management.
Forestry Certification - How to Become Certified with a Forestry Degree
To receive conservation scientist certification requires accreditation in 16 states. Usually forestry registration and training involves a bachelor’s degree in forestry, and several years of work experience.
The Society for Range Management is known to offer certification and rangeland management and range management consultation, which includes passing an exam, having a bachelor’s forestry degree, and six years of forestry experience.
For those looking to specialize in the preservation of wetlands, the Society of Wetlands Scientists offers certification as a wetland scientist.
Outlook for Forestry Careers - What is the Future of Forestry Employment?
The future of forestry programs is expected to only experience job growth in the range of 5% over the next decade. The United States Forest Service owns significant chunks of forest land in America and is the largest employer of conservation scientists.
State governments are the second largest employer of those who want to manage forest land as a career.
With an emphasis on environmental protection, a number of jobs will be created in forestry management as a result of the need to preserve natural environments.
The private forest industry also hires foresters in order to evaluate tree stands, the health of their forest holdings, and to manage pest control. While wood products have taken a nosedive in the past 10 years, historically forests have been a good investment, and it is likely that the government’s estimate for forestry employment is likely to be understated.
Conservation Scientist Pay Scale - How Much Do Foresters Earn?
Conservation scientists earned a median salary of $54,970 in 2006, while forester jobs earned $51,190 over the same time period.
Those looking to enter the Federal government as a forester should expect to start in the range of $28,862, with a doctoral degree earning starting salaries is highs $63,417, depending on area.
In 2007, the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that college graduates specializing in conservation resources received a starting salary of $34,678.
Salaries for foresters in the private sector vary depending on location, but they usually fall into the same range as foresters who work for the Federal government.
Conservation scientists and foresters who work for Federal and state governments receive good retirement programs and benefits, as opposed to those who are involved in private practice.