In our post Three Reasons to Enter the Forestry Field, we mentioned a few of the jobs available in today’s modern forestry sector. Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) has created a series of videos titled “Find Your Path.” The series covers a variety of the types of forestry related jobs that are available. Check out this short video from OFRI which highlights what we would call the traditional or field forester. A field forester is often the closest professional working on the ground to assure a healthy and vibrant forest is growing. Much of their time is spent in the field or “woods” collecting data and information. Developing management plans and identifying need treatments to maintain growth and reaching landowner objectives are some tasks for a field forester. Controlling competing vegetation, pre-commercial or commercial thinning operations are a few examples of treatments a forester may schedule to assure the continued growth of the forest.
Where can you find Field Foresters?
Field foresters can be found in a variety of organizations around the world. In North America field forester cans be found working for large private commercial forest landowners, state and federal land management agencies, tribal timber organizations, private consultants, and non-profits. Foresters work to help these organizations meet their land management goals. Often these goals are to produce a revenue stream for the organization while also contributing to habitat and clean water goals.
Technology for the Field Forester
As seen in the video, technology is rapidly advancing for use by foresters in the field. Handheld computers have been used in the woods for decades, but the ease of taking more advanced tablets/iPads, cell phones, GPS both stand alone and integrated into other devices, and drones into the woods is changing how field foresters get their work done.
4 Traits for Success
There are four traits for success mentioned in the video. Three of these really are critical for nearly any job and the fourth is good for most forest sector jobs.
- Great Communication Skills – The ability to clearly express your ideas and communicate those to your audience is very important. This can be a learned skill with some practice if you feel you are not strong in this area.
- Self Motivation – The ability to be self motivated will help you succeed in many jobs. It is not uncommon in forestry to work in small teams or individually so this is critical to continue moving forward on projects.
- An Eye for Detail – Much of applying forestry skills and knowledge requires attention to detail. Planning, permitting, cruising, all require attention to detail for success.
- Good physical conditioning – A field forester position can be demanding physically. Often foresters are working outside on uneven terrain, sometimes steep ground and in all sorts of weather conditions. Proper physical conditioning is important for safety and our health when working in the field.
This was a brief overview of one type of job in available in the forest products sector. If this intrigues you, be sure to check out our resource page for schools where you can learn more about forestry degrees and careers. Be on the lookout for our next review of one of the “Finding Your Path” videos.