Beijing Paradise BBS Backup/PARADISE.ISO/software/BBSDOORW/JOB4.ZIP/OOHB0061.HBK

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Foresters and Conservation Scientists

(D.O.T.  040.061-030, -046, -050, -054, and -062; .167-010; 049.127)

Nature of the Work

Forests and rangelands serve a variety of needs: They supply wood
products, livestock forage, minerals, and water; serve as sites for
recreational activities; and provide habitats for wildlife.
Foresters and conservation scientists manage, develop, use, and help
protect these and other natural resources.

   Foresters manage timberland, which involves a variety of duties.
Those working in private industry may procure timber from private
landowners.  To do this, foresters contact local forest owners and
gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location
of all standing timber on the property, a process known as timber
cruising.  Foresters then appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the
purchase of timber, and draw up a contract for procurement.  Next,
they subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal,
aid in road layout, and maintain close contact with the
subcontractor's workers and the landowner to ensure that the work is
performed to the landowner's, as well as federal, state, and local
environmental specifications.  Forestry consultants often act as
agents for the forest owner, performing the above duties and
negotiating timber sales with industrial procurement foresters.

   Throughout the process, foresters consider the economics of the
purchase as well as the environmental impact on natural resources, a
function which has taken on added importance in recent years.  To do
this, they determine how best to preserve wildlife habitats, creek
beds, water quality, and soil stability and how best to comply with
environmental regulations.  Foresters must balance the desire to
conserve forested ecosystems for future generations with the need to
use forest resources for recreational or economic purposes.

   Foresters also supervise the planting and growing of new trees, a
process called regeneration.  They choose and prepare the site,
using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear weeds,
brush, and logging debris.  They advise on the type, number, and
placement of trees to be planted.  Foresters then monitor the trees
to ensure healthy growth and to determine the best time for
harvesting.  If they detect signs of disease or harmful insects,
they decide on the best course of treatment to prevent contamination
or infestation of healthy trees.

   Foresters who work for State and Federal governments manage public
parks and forests and also work with private landowners to protect
and manage forest land outside of the public domain.  They may also
design campgrounds and recreation areas.

   Foresters use a number of tools to perform their jobs: Clinometers
measure the heights, diameter tapes measure the diameter, and
increment borers and bark gauges measure the growth of trees so that
timber volumes can be computed and future growth estimated.
Photogrammetry and remote sensing (aerial photographs taken from
airplanes and satellites) are often used for mapping large forest
areas and for detecting widespread trends of forest and land use.
Computers are used extensively, both in the office and in the field,
for the storage, retrieval, and analysis of information required to
manage the forest land and its resources.

   Range managers, also called range conservationists, range
ecologists, or range scientists, manage, improve, and protect
rangelands to maximize their use without damaging the environment.
Rangelands cover about 1 billion acres of the United States, mostly
in the western States and Alaska.  They contain many natural
resources, including grass and shrubs for animal grazing, wildlife
habitats, water from vast watersheds, recreation facilities, and
valuable mineral and energy resources.  Range managers help ranchers
attain optimum livestock production by determining the number and
kind of animals to graze, the grazing system to use, and the best
season for grazing.  At the same time, however, they maintain soil
stability and vegetation for other uses such as wildlife habitats
and outdoor recreation.

   Soil conservationists provide technical assistance to farmers,
ranchers, and others concerned with the conservation of soil, water,
and related natural resources.  They develop programs designed to
get the most productive use of land without damaging it.  Soil
conservationists do most of their work in the field.
Conservationists visit areas with erosion problems, find the source
of the problem, and help landowners and managers develop management
practices to combat it.

   Foresters and conservation scientists often specialize in one area
such as forest resource management, urban forestry, wood technology,
or forest economics.

   A forester consults a map to locate a client's property.

Working Conditions

Working conditions for foresters and conservation scientists vary
considerably.  Although some of the work is solitary, they also deal
regularly with landowners, loggers, forestry technicians and aides,
farmers, ranchers, government officials, special interest groups,
and the public in general.  Some work regular hours in offices or
labs.

   The work can still be physically demanding, though.  Many foresters
and conservation scientists often work outdoors in all kinds of
weather, sometimes in isolated areas.  Some foresters may need to
walk long distances through densely wooded land to carry out their
work.  Foresters and conservation scientists also may work long
hours fighting fires or in other emergencies.

Employment

Foresters and conservation scientists held about 35,000 jobs in
1992.  About one-third of the salaried workers were in the Federal
Government, primarily in the Department of Agriculture's Forest
Service and Soil Conservation Service and in the Department of the
Interior's Bureau of Land Management.  The Forest Service alone
employed over 5,000 foresters and over 400 range conservationists in
1992.  Another 25 percent worked for State governments, and 8
percent worked for local governments.  The remainder worked in
private industry, mainly in the forestry industry.  Other
significant employers included logging and lumber companies and
sawmills.  Some were self-employed as consultants for private
landowners, State and Federal governments, and forestry-related
businesses.

   Most soil conservationists work for the Department of Agriculture's
Soil Conservation Service.  Others are employed by State and local
governments in their soil conservation districts.

   Although foresters and conservation scientists work in every State,
employment is concentrated in the western and southeastern States,
where many national and private forests and parks are, and where
most of the lumber and pulpwood-producing forests are.  Range
managers work almost entirely in the western States, where most of
the rangeland is located.  Soil conservationists, on the other hand,
are employed in almost every county in the country.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

A bachelor's degree in forestry is the minimum educational
requirement for professional careers in forestry.  In the Federal
Government, a combination of experience and appropriate education
can occasionally substitute for a 4-year forestry degree, but job
competition makes this difficult.

   Thirteen States have mandatory licensing or registration
requirements which a forester must meet in order to acquire the
title professional forester.  Becoming licensed or registered
usually requires a 4-year degree in forestry, a minimum period of
training time, and passing an exam.

   Foresters who wish to perform specialized research or teach should
have an advanced degree, preferably a Ph.D.  In 1993, about 55
colleges and universities offered bachelor's or higher degrees in
forestry; 45 of these were accredited by the Society of American
Foresters.  Curriculums stress science, mathematics, communications
skills, and computer science, as well as technical forestry
subjects.  Courses in forest economics and business administration
supplement the student's scientific and technical knowledge.
Prospective foresters should also have a strong grasp on policy
issues and on the increasingly numerous and complex environmental
regulations which affect many forestry-related activities.  Many
colleges require students to complete a field session in a camp
operated by the college.  All schools encourage students to take
summer jobs that provide experience in forestry or conservation
work.

   A bachelor's degree in range management or range science is the
usual minimum educational requirement for range managers; graduate
degrees generally are required for teaching and research positions.
In 1992, 31 colleges and universities offered degrees in range
management or range science or in a closely related discipline with
a range management or range science option.  A number of other
schools offered some courses in range management or range science.
Specialized range management courses combine plant, animal, and soil
sciences with principles of ecology and resource management.
Desirable electives include economics, forestry, hydrology,
agronomy, wildlife, animal husbandry, computer science, and
recreation.

   Very few colleges and universities offer degrees in soil
conservation.  Most soil conservationists have degrees in agronomy,
general agriculture, or crop or soil science; a few have degrees in
related fields such as wildlife biology, forestry, and range
management.  Programs of study generally include 30 semester hours
in natural resources or agriculture, including at least 3 hours in
soil science.

   In addition to meeting the demands of forestry and conservation
research and analysis, foresters and conservation scientists
generally must enjoy working outdoors, be physically hardy, and be
willing to move to where the jobs are.  They must also work well
with people and have good communications skills.

   Recent forestry and range management graduates usually work under
the supervision of experienced foresters or range managers.  After
gaining experience, they may advance to more responsible positions.
In the Federal Government, most entry level foresters work in forest
resource management.  An experienced Federal forester may supervise
a ranger district, and may advance to regional forest supervisor or
to a top administrative position.  In private industry, foresters
start by learning the practical and administrative aspects of the
business and acquiring comprehensive technical training.  They are
then introduced to contract writing, timber harvesting, and decision
making.  Some foresters work their way up to top managerial
positions within their companies.  Foresters in management usually
leave the fieldwork behind, spending more of their time in an
office, working with teams to develop management plans and
supervising others.  After gaining several years of experience, many
foresters become consulting foresters, working alone or with one or
several partners.  They advise State or local governments, private
landowners, private industry, or other forestry consulting groups.

   Soil conservationists usually begin working within one county or
conservation district and with experience may advance to the area,
State, regional, or national level.  Also, soil conservationists can
transfer to related occupations such as farm or ranch management
advisor or land appraiser.

Job Outlook

Employment of foresters and conservation scientists is expected to
grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the
year 2005, partly due to budgetary constraints in the Federal
Government, where employment is concentrated.  However, an expected
wave of retirements in the Federal Government should create
additional job openings for both foresters and range
conservationists.  Job opportunities for foresters outside of the
Federal Government are expected to be better.  Demand will continue
to increase at the State and local government level in response to
the emphasis on environmental protection and responsible land
management.  For example, urban foresters are increasingly needed to
do environmental impact studies in urban areas, and to help regional
planning commissions make land use decisions, particularly in the
Northeast and in other major population centers of the country.  At
the State level, more numerous and complex environmental regulations
have created demand for more foresters to deal with these issues.
Also, the nationwide Stewardship Incentive Program, funded by the
Federal Government, provides money to the States to encourage
landowners to practice multiple-use forest management.  Foresters
will be needed to assist landowners in making decisions about how to
manage their forested property.  In private industry, more foresters
should be needed to improve forest and logging practices and
increase output and profitability.

   Certain areas of the country offer greater job opportunities for
foresters and range conservationists than others.  Employment for
range conservationists is concentrated in the West and Midwest, and
most forestry-related employment is in the South and West.

Earnings

Most graduates entering the Federal Government as foresters, range
managers, or soil conservationists with a bachelor's degree started
at $18,340 or $22,717 a year, in 1993, depending on academic
achievement.  Those with a master's degree could start at $22,717 or
$27,789.  Holders of doctorates could start at $33,623 or, in
research positions, at $40,298.  In 1993, the average Federal salary
for foresters in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial
positions was $42,440; for soil conservationists, $39,448; and for
forest products technologists, $56,559.

   In private industry, starting salaries for students with a
bachelor's degree were comparable to starting salaries in the
Federal Government, but starting salaries in State and local
governments were generally lower.

   Foresters and conservation scientists who work for Federal, State,
and local governments and large private firms generally receive more
generous benefits for example, pension and retirement plans, health
and life insurance, and paid vacations than those working for
smaller firms.

Related Occupations

Foresters and conservation scientists are not the only workers who
manage, develop, and protect natural resources.  Other workers with
similar responsibilities include agricultural scientists,
agricultural engineers, biological scientists, environmental
scientists, farmers, farm managers, ranchers, ranch managers, soil
scientists and soil conservation technicians, and wildlife managers.

Sources of Additional Information

   Information about the forestry profession and lists of schools
offering education in forestry are available from:

   Society of American Foresters, 5400 Grosvenor Ln., Bethesda, MD
20814.

   Information about a career as a range manager as well as a list of
schools offering training is available from:

   Society for Range Management, 1839 York St., Denver, CO 80206.

   Information about a career as a soil conservationist is available
from:

   Soil and Water Conservation Society, 7515 Northeast Ankeny Rd., RR
#1, Ankeny, IA 50021-9764.

   For information about career opportunities in the Federal
Government, contact:

   Bureau of Land Management, U.S.  Department of the Interior, Room
3619, 1849 C St.  NW., Washington, DC 20240.

   Chief, U.S.  Forest Service, U.S.  Department of Agriculture, P.O.
Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.

   Soil Conservation Service, U.S.  Department of Agriculture, 14th St.
and Independence Ave.  SW., Washington, DC 20013.


Physical Scientists