Forest & Conservation Workers
Forest Ranger, Forestry Support Specialist, Tree Farmer, Tree Planter
What they do:
Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.
On the job, you would:
- Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
- Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
- Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
Knowledge
Arts and Humanities
- English language
Safety and Government
- public safety and security
Business
- customer service
- management
Math and Science
- biology
Skills
Basic Skills
- keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
- thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Abilities
Endurance
- exercise for a long time without getting out of breath
Verbal
- listen and understand what people say
- communicate by speaking
Hand and Finger Use
- hold or move items with your hands
- keep your arm or hand steady
Ideas and Logic
- notice when problems happen
Personality
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Cooperation
- Dependability
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Integrity
- Stress Tolerance
- Initiative
Technology
You might use software like this on the job:
Geographic information system
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Geographic information system GIS software
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Microsoft Excel
Education
Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
bachelor's degree
usually needed
bachelor's degree
usually needed
Job Outlook
Below Average
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Explore More
- Conservation Scientists
- Farmworkers & Laborers, Crop, Nursery, & Greenhouse
- Forest & Conservation Technicians
- Foresters
- Range Managers
You might like a career in one of these industries:
See more details at O*NET OnLine about forest and conservation workers.