Foresters

What They Do

Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.

Typical Tasks

• Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
• Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
• Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
• Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
• Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.

Key Skills

Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards