When you think about the forestry industry, many different ideas may come to mind.
Are they the people who help preserve forests and wildlife habitats? Or are those the companies that build those cool live-edge tables and deliver firewood each winter?
The answer to both of those questions would be yes. The forestry industry is full of a wide variety of jobs for anyone who loves working outside.
Whether you’re wondering how to start working in the forestry industry, you’re searching for a career that would fit your forestry degree, or you’re simply intrigued by the forestry industry as a whole, this is the place for you.
Keep reading to get all your questions answered with this forestry industry guide.
What Happens in Forestry
So what exactly do forestry jobs entail?
They can cover a range of responsibilities from managing forested lands like parks and backcountry areas, to working in the logging industry to monitor tree populations and timber quality.
Some individuals in forestry even test water quality and soil stability. These practices help support new tree growth and the health of the surrounding habitat.
Ultimately, foresters practice resource management. Trees are a renewable and valuable resource that serves countless purposes, so caring for every forest and tree is a critical duty.
Types of Forestry Jobs
So now that you’ve gotten an idea of the many kinds of work forestry professionals do, what are some specific job possibilities in the industry?
Here are few popular options for finding work in forestry regardless of where you live.
Park Ranger
Park rangers can work on state or federal land. The bulk of their work will likely include enforcing park regulations and assisting visitors.
But they will also track invasive plants, tree diseases or infestations, flooding, and daily condition reports.
Depending on their qualifications and experience, they may also assist emergency rescue or evacuation teams when someone gets injured in the park.
Conservation Scientist
As the name suggests, this career path focuses on wildlife and plant species conservation. You would be developing management strategies for promoting forest health and longevity.
Part of your job would include recording soil erosion and the variety of plant species occupying the forest.
You may also work with timber harvesters and recommend strategies to inflict the least amount of damage to the forest ecosystem.
Procurement Agent
A procurement agent will work primarily in the logging industry.
You would be in charge of surveying land for timber quality and estimating the value of different tree species. You may also hire the cutters and loggers that will work on the site.
When working in the logging business, you may also collaborate with paper or energy companies. There are a couple of different kinds of logging, and different businesses may use different strategies.
One type of logging is clear-cutting logging. This technique involves selecting an area of trees and removing all the trees in that space regardless of species or use.
Another technique is selective logging.
Some logging companies will prioritize cutting trees of a higher value, so they will only remove those specific trees in a given logging area.
This practice is promoted as being more environmentally friendly. However, the surrounding trees are often still damaged in the process.
Regardless of what kind of logging company you’re working for, you want to make sure they have the top insurance for their logging sawmill. Logging is a heavy-duty industry, and you want to be covered in the best way possible.
Forestry Science Technician
If you love nature but don’t necessarily want to spend every workday outside, consider becoming a forestry science technician. These type of forestry professionals focus their energies on research.
Their background education and experience are in genetics and biotechnology. They explore various ways to make trees more resilient against pests and diseases.
They might even hypothesize how to make certain trees grow faster through breeding programs. This will help trees that are removed by logging companies to be replaced quicker.
Urban Forester
You don’t have to live out in the country to become a forester. If you want to bring a little more nature to the city you call home, join the clan of urban foresters.
You’ll have the opportunity to work in public parks tracking tree growth and ecosystem health, as well as managing new plantings and removing dead or diseased trees.
You can be part of urban initiatives to make spending time in nature more accessible. While many people love living in a city, they miss out on the health benefits of being in nature.
The installation of arboretums or the hosting of nature walks in local preservation sites helps draw attention to the importance of these outdoor spaces.
Benefits of Working in Forestry
Forests offer countless benefits to every ecosystem. They help clean the air and provide oxygen for us to breathe. They provide habitat space for more than half of the land animals and plants on Earth.
Many forests have been experiencing brutal deforestation for many years.
While there are many natural resources that come from trees, it’s also crucial that these tree species be replenished. They also need time to mature so the planet can continue, quite literally, to breathe.
Learning About the Forestry Industry
The forestry industry is more than just tree-hugging or being a lumberjack in a red plaid shirt. The opportunities to work in your country’s forests are far-reaching, and it’s never too late to get involved.
Keep the learning going by taking a minute to explore the many different topics covered on our website.
