Forester

Foresters are responsible for the management and supervision of land that is used for timber production. There are several different types of foresters ranging from those that work for private companies to those that work to procure additional sources of timber for industry. There are also foresters that work for government agencies. Foresters play an important role as land managers, ensuring that viable stands of timber will be available for harvesting now and in the future.

The forester must be able to assess the current stands of timber as well as plan for continuous growth and sustainability of both government and privately owned lands. Some foresters may be responsible for forest inventory, forest health, as well as anticipating problems or issues with continued growth and development of forested areas.

Foresters now use highly advanced infrared photography, aerial photographs, satellite images and remote sensing to map and record the growth of even remote forest areas. While foresters use this information primarily for inventory purposes for forests they are also responsible for adhering to government rules and regulations with regards to timber harvesting as well as conserving the environment and the wildlife in the area.

Common work activities include:

• Recording, tracking, and managing the inventory and ensuring the continued growth of stands of timber.
• Measuring the size of the timber stands using clinometers to measure height of trees and bark gauges and increment borders to measure the growth of trees.
• Mapping and outlining plans for continued timber harvest and expanding the current areas that are being cut.
• Monitoring the environmental impact of timber harvest on a given area and planning for effective use of the land area with minimal impact on the animals and plants within that area.
• Planning, developing and implementing the reforestation of already harvested timber areas to provide both an environmental balance and future timber growth.
• Ensuring the continued sustainability of both timber industries and forested areas in the future by educating and informing both the public and the government agencies on effective policies.

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