Conservation Scientists and Foresters
Additional Information
Duties
Typical conservation scientist activities include:
- Monitor forestry and conservation operations to ensure they comply with government rules and regulations.
- Talk to landowners about forest harvesting and land-use agreements.
- Create a plan for managing forest resources and areas.
- Keep an eye on cleared land to ensure future use.
- Work with private landowners, governments, farmers, and others to improve land for forestry.
Foresters usually do the following:
- Ensure the safety of forest and conservation specialists.
- Clear the ground with controlled fire, bulldozers, or herbicides.
- Keep an eye on forest growth.
- Participate in your direction's forest fire suppression.
- Find the most eco-friendly way to remove wood from a location.
Conservation scientists must protect the country's natural resources. To solve common difficulties, this group works with private landowners and government institutions at all levels. Conservationists advise farmers and ranchers on how to improve their land for agriculture while preventing erosion.
Foresters have a wide range of duties. Foresters organize reforestation projects, monitor their progress, and manage harvests. Foresters must also design measures to prevent disease, insects, and devastating wildfires. Foresters frequently supervise the work of other forest and conservation staff and technicians.
Conservationists and forestry professionals must assess the effects of wildfires and logging on forests. They also put out fires and plant seedlings. Fighting fires requires measuring the spread of a fire and the effectiveness of planned suppression measures.
Conservationists and foresters study the effects of fire on ecosystems. To ensure that knowledge is accurate and valuable, firefighters and other forest workers must connect with conservation biologists and foresters.
These experts use a variety of tools to do their jobs. Timber amounts and growth rates can be estimated using clinometers, diameter tapes, increment borers, and bark gauges.
Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) data are routinely used to map large forest or range regions and discover widespread patterns in forest and land use. They use pocket computers and GPS devices to evaluate these maps.
Some examples of conservation scientists are:
Conservation land managers for land trusts or other conservation organizations protect wildlife habitat, biodiversity, scenic beauty, and other particular qualities of conservation lands.
Range managers, sometimes known as range conservationists, are in charge of protecting rangelands so they may be used sustainably. Rangelands cover hundreds of millions of acres in the US, especially in the west and Alaska.
Range managers can help restore damaged habitats, gather soil samples, plant and animal samples, and manage ranches. These measures also maintain soil stability and vegetation for wildlife habitats and outdoor recreation. Foresters work to prevent and reduce wildfires and animal invasions.
Soil and water conservationists help persons worried about soil, water, and other natural resources. Private landowner programs optimize property utilization while reducing environmental damage. They help landowners with erosion control. Water quality, water supply, and groundwater pollution experts work with both private and public landowners.
Foresters are classified as follows:
Purchasing timber from local forest owners is the main source of foresters. This includes taking a full inventory of the property's standing wood. Procurement foresters then assess the timber's value and negotiate its purchase. The forester then employs loggers or pulpwood cutters to fell trees and build paths into the woods.
Urban foresters are arborists who work and live in tree-rich areas. This group of employees is concerned about storm water runoff, air quality, and shade.
Education
To begin a career as a conservation scientist or forester, you usually need a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field like agriculture or biology.
Undergraduate programs in these areas often cover subjects like biology, ecology, and forest measurement. Many conservation scientists and foresters also gain skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and computer modeling.
The Society of American Foresters accredits programs in forestry, urban forestry, and natural resource and ecosystem management.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
In several states, conservation scientists and foresters may need to go through a licensing or credentialing process. Licensing requirements vary by state, so it’s important to check with your state’s licensing board for specific details.
Additionally, some conservation scientists and foresters pursue voluntary certifications to enhance their credentials. For instance, the Society of American Foresters (SAF) offers a forester certification to individuals who meet specific criteria, including earning a bachelor's degree from an SAF-accredited or equivalent program, gaining professional experience, and passing an examination.
Pay
The median annual wage for conservation scientists was $67,950 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,720.
Job Projections
Overall employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.