Career in Forestry : Overview

Forestry is an important and interesting subject of study. Forestry involves protection of forests and farming of trees to ensure contributing timber supply. Forester takes care of forest resources by protecting them from fire, pests, disease, encroachment and indiscriminate felling of trees. Forests form part of the vital natural resources of a country. From time immemorial forest resources have been a source of human sustenance. They are home to the most amazing herbs, medicinal compounds, natural cosmetics etc. Forestry and Wild Life go together since forests serve as home for wildlife. Forest wealth also contributes significantly to the economy of the country. Specially trained personnel are therefore needed to maintain and regenerate the forest cover, forest wealth and resources. This involves the services of forestry specialists, forestry management experts and forest officers.

 Forestry essentially entails outdoor work. You'll be spending most of your time mapping forested areas,

particularly during the initial years of your career. If you take this up as a career, you can choose to work

for: 

• Indian Forest Service 

• Forest Management 

• Forest Research 

• Wildlife Biology/Management 

• Others, like Plantation forestry

 

Indian Forest Service & State Forest Service

There are many wild life species in India that are endangered and need to be protected and conserved. As an

Indian Forest Service or State Forest Service Officer, your core job will be protection and conservation of

forest resources and wild life. 

 

In India, there are over 500 protected forest areas. If you get a job in one of these areas, you will be

devising, implementing and monitoring detailed management plans. You will be constantly monitoring

habitat parameters, resources and human population. You will also be in charge of preservation and

protection of forests from campers and poachers. 

 

Forest Management

As a forest management professional, your core job will be managing forest resources in such a way that

they are not depleted. You will prepare documents about forest resources such as timber, ground for cattle

grazing, shelter for wild animals, food and water for animals, etc. You will also identify areas, which require

particular attention for fresh planting, felling, and thinning of dense forests or pruning, or pest control. 

 

You will also plan wildlife reserves, roads leading to interesting spots, recreation points, lakes, etc. You will

supervise the crew conducting these assignments and maintain progress records. 

 

Forest Research

There are a number of areas in which you can be involved. You may choose to be involved in research in

various areas. For instance: 

Biological diversity: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you will find out how biological communities are

organised; what is the impact of various forms of land use on the levels of biological diversity; how we can

preserve biological diversity, etc

 

Human Ecology:  In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll find out what role man plays in biological

communities. How do his activities affect productivity and diversity of biological communities?

 

Eco-development: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll break your head to find out how humans can

manage the ecological environment and improve the habitat. How can we improve the efficiency of the use

of fuel, fodder, construction material, etc., to reduce demand for these materials?

 

Climate Change and Tropical Forests: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll study the impact of

climatic change on forests. You will find out the potential of forestry as an option for improving the

environment.

 

Animal Communication: It will be exciting to find out song pattern recognition in insects (say, cricket or

grasshoppers), communication signals during courtship and their role in male mating success in this field of

Forestry & Wildlife.

 

Wildlife Biology And Management: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll identify wild life habitats,

carry out census, devise plans for conservation and monitor the implementation of the plans.

 

Plantation Forestry: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll standardise fertiliser dosage for plants, say,

for teak plantation. You will recommend where to plant the trees and conservation policies. 

1. Job Categorieso Forestry occupations fall into three main categories: government foresters,

industrial foresters and consulting foresters. Government foresters take care of government-owned forests and parks that are essentially public property. Industrial foresters work within the private sector and make a living by helping their employers procure timber and other related raw materials for business. Consulting foresters work more as researchers and supervisors. They advise businesses on the best way to harvest the forest, and may offer consultancy on how to enrich business.

Other Forestry Jobso Other openings within the industry range anywhere from geographic

information specialists (GISs), geomatics specialists (who gather and compile geographic data), academics and researchers, forest health specialists and surveyors.

Forestry jobs also include protection officers and forest firefighters, biologists, ecologists or watershed managers.

The forestry industry could also employ specialists who are completely unrelated to forestry, such as economists, marketing specialists, business analysts and natural resource policy analysts.

There are various openings in the forestry industry in both the private and public sectors. Some potential employers are the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, which is a civil service department; the Department of the Interior; the North American Forestry Associations; and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Requirementso Because of the wide range of jobs within the industry, each state has specific

requirements for a career in the forest industry. A basic degree called Bachelor of Science (BSc) in forestry is usually preferred for entry level. This puts a person on the road to becoming either a registered or licensed forester.

Wageso Wages for this industry present a mix of the high and the low. As of 2004 (the

latest year for which data has been compiled), the mean wage for forestry teachers, the highest paid position in this department, was $62,401 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lower-paying jobs in the forestry industry include forestry and conservation scientist positions; forestry workers in those positions earned an average of $43,282.

Job Prospectso The prospects for forestry industry jobs are bright, with a large segment of

existing forestry workers scheduled for retirement between 2009 and 2016, according to the BLS. Moreover, BLS reports that forestry is an ever-evolving area, so the job market within the field is continually advancing.