By Grant Stein

Prior Knowledge• Foresters spend time in the woods and in the office writing reports and compiling data.

• Forestry involves growing and harvesting trees, and managing natural resources.

• Forest products companies need to abide by national laws and state regulations.

• There are two main employers – government agencies and private companies.

• Math, statistics, biology, and ecology are all important background knowledge one must obtain.

• There are many different jobs within the forestry field.

What I Wanted to Know• What are the wages?

• How can one specialize in a forestry career?

• What college courses would be essential to a good forestry career?

• Will there be a need for logging in the future?

• What specific tasks do foresters accomplish?

• What are similar jobs to forestry?

• What would make a forestry career unsafe?

Feelings

I love being outside, but

could I stand working in the

woods almost daily, alone?

If I become a forester and

decide I don’t enjoy that job,

could I find a different

career?

I am hard-working and self-

motivated. I work well alone, but I

can work well on a team.

What if forestry turns out

really boring?

I have considered electrical

engineering… is it a better

job?

Will forestry challenge me

enough?

Does forestry pay enough?

Accomplishments:Accomplishments:

• Jujitsu Black-Belt

• 4.0 GPA

• Hard Worker, Self-Motivated

• 2007 Oregon “Letters about Literature” essay semi-finalist.

• 2009 SOCC Math Competition - 4th place, advanced to finals

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Math, Science, and English

• Problem-Solving

• Communication and Negotiation

• Management

• Self-Motivation

• Teamwork

Definition of forestry:

a : the science of developing, caring for, or cultivating forests

b : the management of growing timber

From the Merriam-Webster dictionary Online.

Job Description and Requirements

Individual Jobs:

• supervisors

• engineers

• silviculture foresters

• inventory foresters

• planning foresters

• biologists

• marketers

• accountants

• forestry technicians

• Indoor/outdoor work

• physically fit

• defensive driving

• safety and awareness – foresters are often around dangerous equipment when supervising

Wages and AdvancementAverage wages:

$43,000 to $70,000 per year.

Major Employers:

• Forest Service

• BLM

• State/National agencies

• Logging companies

• Lumber mills

Advancing in Forestry:

• Begin under supervision

• Learn techniques, gain experience

• Advance to higher managerial positions

Outlook

Economy Improves

Housing Market Booms

Depressed Economy

Low Housing Market

Less need for Lumber.

TODAY

Future

Job cuts in forest products company

Many employees cut, best and most experienced stay.

More jobs open as veteran foresters

retire.

Job opportunity for fresh foresters

Gifford Pinchot Born – 1865 in Connecticut.

Went to Yale, decided on a forestry career.

There was no forestry in America, so Pinchot went to France.

Came back a year later and worked for private companies.

Eventually became head of U.S. Forest Service.

Reorganized national forest management, emphasized long-term profit and forest conservation.

Hugely expanded the size and number of National Forest Reserves.

Died of leukemia in 1946.

Before Gifford Pinchot:

No forestry conservation practiced in America.

Forests, ravaged by men and rampant wildfires, were never replanted.

The forests were quickly being depleted, and nothing was being done to restore them.

What would become of America’s dwindling forests?

Interview with Mr. Stuart Stein, a Planning Forester for Weyerhauser

• Determines sustainable harvest rates, plans harvests, and works with engineers and foresters to arrange and execute those plans.• Works with contractors and wildlife surveyors.

• Often writes reports to higher management, only meeting with them once a month.

• Most foresters - 70% of time in the field. Planning Forester - 10% of time outside.• Marketing, business, and personnel management are useful supplementary college courses.

• Dedicated, enthusiastic team players are most likely to be promoted. Good communication and organization skills are important.

• Different operations take place according to season and weather.

• Special “biotopes” are often set aside for protection. Thousands of acres laid aside for wildlife and endangered species.

• Conduct tours, interface, and communicate often with the public.

“Study: Warm forests may yield less timber”

• Researchers: trees in lower elevations grow more slowly with rising temperatures.

• Trees in higher elevations will grow faster; most timberlands are located in lower elevations.

• Model excludes such factors as precipitation and carbon levels.

• Foresters must be able to project harvest plans for several years into the future.

“Proposal triggers verbal shots; Hunters, officials spar over deer management plan”

• Wisconsin has too many deer and officials are trying to reduce the population.

• Hunters protest all hunting programs that seek to lower deer population.

• Committee to propose several alternatives, despite opposition.

• Foresters often negotiate for controlled hunts to lower population of game on tree farms.

• Deer and other big-game animals cause thousands of dollars in damage to seedlings.

In the News

PersonalPersonal OpinionOpinion

Final Opinion/Decision: Forestry is an exciting job. I am 90% certain I want to pursue this career in the future.

PROS

• I am self-motivated

• I enjoy math and science

• I like to think and reason

• Bright minds are required

• I love the outdoors

• I am competent with technology

CONS

• Team members may be hard to work with.

• Dangerous equipment

• Job opportunities may still be scarce when I leave college.

• I may not enjoy an active career when I am older.