What Do Foresters Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Foresters 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. They also procure timber from private landowners.

Other tasks include:

• Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
• Plan and supervise forestry projects, such as determining the type, number and placement of trees to be planted, managing tree nurseries, thinning forest and monitoring growth of new seedlings.
• Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
• 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.
• Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.

We asked Foresters how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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85% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 81% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Foresters procure timber from private landowners. They supervise activities of other forestry workers.

A typical day for a Forester will also include:

• Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
• Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.
• Contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property.
• Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
• Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations.

We asked some Foresters a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	63% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	27% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	54% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	28% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	5% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	31% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Foresters also negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands. They may also plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Foresters Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage. They might also Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.

In addition, they Plan and supervise forestry projects, such as determining the type, number and placement of trees to be planted, managing tree nurseries, thinning forest and monitoring growth of new seedlings.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.

To some Foresters, it is also their responsibility to Plan and direct construction and maintenance of recreation facilities, fire towers, trails, roads and bridges, ensuring that they comply with guidelines and regulations set for forested public lands.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Forester, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/conservation-scientists.htm

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