Who is a forestry technician

They need to know basic forest management techniques, like remediation and afforestation. Employers often want them to have geographic information system GIS experience and knowledge of related tools and database programs.

Forestry technicians use tools like prisms, clinometers, and calipers. Take our Green Jobs personality quiz. Most positions require at least a two-year college diploma.

In high school, take biology, math, and science. Urban foresters care for city trees by managing the planting, pruning, and removal of any trees located on public land including streets, greenways, parks, and city property.

Additionally, they are often the tree advocates for the city, and lobby for the importance of trees in the community. They do so…. As the team's eyes, you first photograph the area as a qualitative measure of recovery. These photos can be compared to photos taken right after the fire swept through to demonstrate the amount of regeneration in the area over the last 12 months.

Once this is complete, you will gather quantitative evidence, for example, soil samples. You will take several soil cores that will be analyzed in the lab for indicators such as organic content and evidence of germination. These cores will also measure how deeply into the ground the fire burned. In addition to soil samples, you will examine the new green growth, recording the colonizing species and looking for new shoots or runners from tree roots that survived the fire.

You will record all this data and bring it to your team members, who will analyze the different indicators of growth and revival and decide if the area needs their assistance for recovery. Duties vary significantly from job to job, but the following list includes typical job duties one might encounter as a forestry technician:. They include:. The following post-secondary programs are most applicable to a career in this field:.

Also, some specializations require certification, for example scaling or tree marking. The requirements for certification vary among provinces. Fort McMurray, located in northeastern Alberta, is most often associated with massive tar sands operations, but Fort McMurray is also at the heart of the thriving forestry industry. When the trees are cut down, technicians may use measuring devices called scale sticks to find the exact amount of lumber, pulpwood, or plywood each log will yield.

Managers of wood processing plants use this information to make production schedules. Forestry technicians also build roads through forest lands designated for harvest. They work on surveying teams that plan logging roads. They may use surveying equipment, such as transits and long metal tapes. They also keep accurate records of measurements, and sometimes they use slide rules and electronic calculators to determine distances and locations.

Some technicians operate chain saws and road-building equipment, such as bulldozers and graders. Many forestry technicians are involved in reforestation.

They plant trees on land that has been logged or destroyed by fire or industrial use. Both government agencies and private companies hire forestry technicians to work on reforestation projects. Technicians may be in charge of the work crews that plant trees.

Sometimes these crews plant grass or groundcover crops to prevent soil from being washed or blown away. Forestry technicians may assist foresters who check for evidence of harmful insects or tree diseases. Technicians in government agencies may assist forest rangers and park superintendents during vacation seasons by marking trails for hikers. They may help to maintain buildings and equipment in recreational areas. Journey: Supervising fire management staff Developing action items and recommendations on fire management issues Assessing and coordinating onsite activities and reacting to changing conditions Training staff.

DOI employs people at more than 2, locations across the United States and territories. To check for job opportunities, scroll down and click "See jobs on USAjobs. Skip to main content. Forestry Technician. Download Details. Position Overview The Department of the Interior has a critical job to do: helping to protect lives, property and resources from destructive fires. This position is represented at the following bureaus. Candidate Description The ideal candidate has a strong interest in protecting public lands from the devastating effects of fire, whether on the ground cutting firebreaks or supervising firefighting team operations.