Foresters work in the field and in offices, using a variety of technologies to help them perform their job duties. Depending on the specific focus of their job, a forester may use technology like GPS devices to mark the location of a timber plot or other significant features of a forest such as streams, snags, ridges, rare species and more. Some foresters are also using new technology like drones or LiDAR to assess the quality of trees, log volume and more, which can improve inventory management and logging efficiency.
Forester jobs involve a wide variety of tasks and skills, including identification, math, decision-making, short- and long-term planning and mapping. They may plant and grow forests, oversee tree nurseries, monitor wildlife habitats and protect a forest’s ecosystem. Other forestry professionals may purchase and appraise the monetary value of timber and negotiate sales. Still others examine a forest to determine when it is ready to be harvested, which requires evaluating the forest’s health and determining methods of harvesting timber with minimal environmental damage.
Foresters tend to be analytical, independent and interested in pursuing knowledge. They are also often practical, reliable and logical, and they may be more focused on results than on people. Despite this, they are often motivated by the desire to work in an environment that is wild and natural. Foresters are often physically fit and have a good understanding of how to use tools, and they must be comfortable working in woodlands where there are a variety of weather conditions and venomous animals.
