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.
Technology Tools
Key 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.
- Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
- Procure timber from private landowners.
- Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
- Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
- Subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal and to aid in road layout.
- Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
- Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.
- Monitor forest-cleared lands to ensure that they are reclaimed to their most suitable end use.
- Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.
- Supervise activities of other forestry workers.
- Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations.
- Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.
- 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.
- Direct, and participate in, forest fire suppression.
- Choose and prepare sites for new trees, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear weeds, brush, and logging debris.
- 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.
- Analyze effect of forest conditions on tree growth rates and tree species prevalence and the yield, duration, seed production, growth viability, and germination of different species.
- Study different tree species' classification, life history, light and soil requirements, adaptation to new environmental conditions and resistance to disease and insects.
- Conduct public educational programs on forest care and conservation.
- Monitor wildlife populations and assess the impacts of forest operations on population and habitats.
- Contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property.
- Develop new techniques for wood or residue use.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
95%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
95%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
91%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
87%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
86%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
85%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
84%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
78%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
77%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
76%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
74%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
73%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
72%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
67%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
65%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
64%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
61%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
60%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
59%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
59%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
57%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
55%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
53%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
53%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
52%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
50%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
49%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
49%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
48%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
46%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
45%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
45%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
44%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
44%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
39%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
37%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
36%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
31%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
30%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
28%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
23%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
22%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
21%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
20%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
19%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
18%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
18%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
14%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
12%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
12%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
10%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
8%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
7%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
6%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
5%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
2%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
1%
Education
Bachelor's degree
Associate's degree
Post-secondary certificate
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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