A forest technician works with foresters and land managers, analyzing forests, marking trees for felling, and carrying out assessments of the value of wood. They may also collect data on pests, diseases, wildlife, and tree growth patterns, and work on forest regeneration and building roads or trails. Typically, they work with professionals and spend most of their time outdoors.
A forest technician is an individual who works with foresters and other land managers, usually in conjunction with private companies or state/federal organizations. Typically, a forestry technician is a basic position; these people might have a two-year degree in forestry science or technology, while a professional forester will typically have a four-year bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree. A technician’s job can vary depending on where he works and what type of company he works for, but it typically involves analyzing forests, marking trees for felling and carrying out assessments of the value of wood from certain areas, related to the feet each sale could yield.
It is rare for a forestry technician to independently determine which trees to cut in a managed forest. Typically these decisions are made with the assistance of a professional forester based on the wishes of the property owner or manager. For example, some forests are managed for scenic or conservation value, while others are managed solely for lumber. Each of these factors will determine the amount and type of trees that will be cut down and requires a lot of specialist knowledge. The forester can then mark each tree to be cut with paint; Typically, technicians and foresters don’t cut themselves too much, as that’s the logger’s job.
Another frequent job of a forest technician, particularly for conservation groups or state/national environmental organizations, is research. This person will collect data on things like the incidence of pests or diseases in certain tree areas, changes in wildlife, or tree growth patterns. This data is used by others to determine how best to manage the forest, often to achieve certain conservation goals for forest regeneration. Sometimes an aspect of this research is fire management, as controlled fires are now often used as a method of managing forests more naturally.
Forest regeneration, or reforestation, can be another task for the forest technician. This may involve planting specific trees in specific areas where they are most likely to succeed and enjoy beneficial symbiotic relationships with other tree species. Again, most of these tasks are planned and completed with forestry professionals, but the technician takes on an important aspect of this work. Some forest technicians will also work to plan and build roads or trails for various purposes. Anyone entering this career should expect to spend most of their time outdoors, often independently.
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