interview

[foresterwannabe]

hi my name is ian boyle
in biology class we were to choose a career about what we would like to be when we grow up i chose forester one of the requirements for this project wasa to interview someone with this profession i was wondering if one of you would like to conduct an online interview with me within the next few days
its simply just a few questions about foresters and thats all thanks for your help -ian boyle

[Phorester]

Be glad too, if you'd like.  I've been a professional forester with the VA Dept. of Forestry for 30 years.

If you click on my user name, you can send me a private message, at the very bottom of my profile. I don't have Instant Messenger, but we should be able to conduct an interview some way.

[foresterwannabe]

so you want to do the interview on here then?

[Texas Ranger]

I am a forester in Texas, and am on MS Messenger now, if you want to send you email address I will talk with you.

[Jeff]

I'd like to see the interview conducted here.

 Ian, you could list your interview questions here, and interview multiple foresters at one time. After getting a few results, you could formulate some follow up questions.  You have a unique opportunity to get a sampling of knowledge from a wide source of experience with plenty of geographic and environmental diversities to add to the report.

[Furby]

Me to if ya all don't mind?


Oh, and welcome Ian!
Stick around and you will learn a lot of what you want to know!

[foresterwannabe]

ok ill conduct the interview on here but there are certain things i need in order to do this project like people address and a business card and stuff and phone number if you dont mind i need to fill out this form

i would be happy to conduct the interview on here

[foresterwannabe]

ok well heres the questions fell free to answer at will if you participated in this interview please personal message all of your information i would also need a business card from one or multiple people umm you could just scan that on to the computer if you cant do that then message me and we'll work something out:
1. What are foresters main jobs?
2. What is the training required to become a forester?
3. What should i expect to do as a new forester?
4. What high school courses should i take as i am only in 9th grade?
5. What should be my college major and minor?
6. What is the average salary for a forester?
7. Where should I go to become a forester?
8. What should i do now in preparations to become a forester?
9. What are the physicla aspects of becoming a forester?
10. What is the demand for foresters?
11. Do you always work in the woods or do you have an office?
12. Do you enjoy being a forester?
13. Could i be a forester and work in new yor city?
14. Why did you want to become a forester?
15. What should i be able to do before i can become a forester?
16. If i were to become a forester should i be a foresters in my local area or out of state?
17. What are some jobs related to forester?
18. Is a forester a world-wide job?
19. What age should i start out as a forester?
20. Do foresters work in every state in the u.s.?

[isawlogs]

This is kinda long but it does resume what a forester will or could be asked to do .
  Foresters manage forested lands for a variety of purposes. Those working in private industry may manage company forest land or procure timber from private landowners. Company forests usually are managed to produce a sustainable supply of wood for company mills. Procurement foresters contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property, a process known as timber cruising. Foresters then appraise the timber's worth, negotiate its purchase, and draw up a contract for procurement. Next, they subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal, aid in road layout, and maintain close contact with the subcontractor's workers and the landowner to ensure that the work meets the landowner's requirements, as well as Federal, State, and local environmental specifications. Forestry consultants often act as agents for the forest owner, performing these duties and negotiating timber sales with industrial procurement foresters.

Throughout the forest management and procurement processes, foresters consider the economics as well as the environmental impact on natural resources. To do this, they determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. Foresters must balance the desire to conserve forested ecosystems for future generations with the need to use forest resources for recreational or economic purposes.

Through a process called regeneration, foresters also supervise the planting and growing of new trees. They choose and prepare the site, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear weeds, brush, and logging debris. They advise on the type, number, and placement of trees to be planted. Foresters then monitor the seedlings to ensure healthy growth and to determine the best time for harvesting. If they detect signs of disease or harmful insects, they consult with forest pest management specialists to decide on the best course of treatment. Foresters who work for Federal and State governments manage public forests and parks and work with private landowners to protect and manage forest land outside of the public domain. They may also design campgrounds and recreation areas.

Foresters use a number of tools to perform their jobs. Clinometers measure the height, diameter tapes measure the diameter, and increment borers and bark gauges measure the growth of trees so that timber volumes can be computed and growth rates estimated. Remote sensing (aerial photographs and other imagery taken from airplanes and satellites) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data often are used for mapping large forest areas and for detecting widespread trends of forest and land use. Once the map is generated, the data are digitized to create a computerized inventory of information required to manage the forest land and its resources. Moreover, hand-held computers, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), and World Wide Web-based applications are used extensively.

[Texas Ranger]

Isaw, couldn't have said it better my self.

[Phorester]

fyi, I answered Ian's questions through the personal message option from my profile.  Don't know why now, but at the time I thought it would be too long to do it here.  Probably wouldn't have made any difference.  ISAWLOGS had an excellent response too.

Not trying to stop anyone else from answering Ian's questions, you can all add to it I know.  Just wanted y'all to know I did what I said I was gonna do............

[Bruce_A]

isawlogs;  Is that frost on your chin?

[Texas Ranger]

1.      What are forester's main jobs?

There are many jobs, depending on the employer and goals of the individual.  Some foresters run and maintain seed orchards, some work with private landowners, some work their full career for industry and government.  All depends on where and what you as a forester want to do.  But the single most important job is to work with and leave the environment in better shape than when you started.

2. What is the training required to become a forester?

    Most of us have a minimum of a BS in Forestry, or one of the related subjects that requires a minimum of 4.5 years of college or more.  Many have Masters and some PhD's.  But that is the formal training; far more training is done in the first years of a career when you are learning what is really required to be a forester.

3. What should I expect to do as a new forester?

    Most foresters start at the entry level, doing the basic groundwork for your employer.  This may be cruising stands for data, fighting fire on line, doing basic research for a project, or any of the mired items that it takes to run the business of forestry.

4. What high school courses should I take as I am only in 9th grade?

    Science, math, computers, public speaking, economics, technical writing, and any of the hard sciences that will give you the basics for doing the job later on.

5. What should be my college major and minor?

    Forestry, if that is where you want to be, for the major. Any of the associate minors. Business administration, computers, game management, soil science, environmental engineering, etc.

6. What is the average salary for a forester?

    Starting out, about the same as a public school teacher.  It is not the most lucrative of professions, but it can be one of the most satisfying.  

7. Where should I go to become a forester?

     College first, then any of the jobs that may be available after graduation.  There is a diminishing market for foresters as the nations timber lands become more and more fragmented on the private level, and more economically (called cheap) managed public and corporate lands.

8. What should I do now in preparations to become a forester?

    Learn basic skills in the area you want to work.  Many of my generation spent our lives outdoors, and loved it.  Study the sciences, be curious as to nature, all of it, not just the trees.  At some point you may find yourself responsible for the entire living biome of a forest, and anything you have as background knowledge will help.

9. What are the physical aspects of becoming a forester?

    Good health, reasonable fitness, lots of outdoor work in all sorts of weather.

10. What is the demand for foresters?

      Less now than it has ever been, many go on to other degrees, and other jobs.

11. Do you always work in the woods or do you have an office?

      You work in the woods; you make money in the office when the work is completed.  Depending on the job, you may spend 90% of your time in the woods on one job with the other 10% in the office, or it may be the other way around.
 
12. Do you enjoy being a forester?

      I would do nothing else.

13. Could I be a forester and work in New York City?

       Cannot answer that one, but, if you want to work in NY, you had better do parks and recreations as well.

14. Why did you want to become a forester?

      I grew up in the woods, loved it then, love it now, only thing I could think of that would pay me to do what I love.

15. What should I be able to do before I can become a forester?

      Be honest, to your self and ones around you.  Be creative, figure out answers for yourself.  Be proactive; take the extra step on all jobs, projects.  All this sets up to a work ethic that should stick with you.

16. If I were to become a forester should I be a forester in my local area or out of state?

      You should go where the jobs are, not set a goal on staying home.

17.      What are some jobs related to forester?

Game management, industrial management, soil science, law enforcement, the list goes on.

18.      Is a forester a worldwide job?

Yes, to a certain extent, but on a nationalist level.

19. What age should I start out as a forester?

      When ever you get your degree(s) and are ready to work.

20. Do foresters work in every state in the U.S.?

      As far as I know.

[foresterwannabe]

thank you all for your help  keep the answers rolling in if you would like

[Ed_K]

 And work for a logger for awhile first  ;D.
 Ed

[SwampDonkey]

OK here's my input

1. What are foresters main jobs?
Depending on who your employer is a forester may be in charge of monitoring silviculture treatments such as planting and thinning. A forester may be in procurement of wood from various sources of supply including private and crown licensed forest lands. A forester may be in charge of forest management planning and partly responsible for forest policies of a company or government agency. A forester could even be in charge of suppression and coordination  of forest fires and pest management in a district or region of forest land.

2. What is the training required to become a forester?
Usually a 5 year post secondary education with forestry related summer experience. It is an asset to apprentice under a forester or technicians in silviculture and forest operations. Understanding and using computers is a must as well as GIS/GPS training. Some undergraduate degrees over GIS courses as electives in later years of study. Some folks will go on to study this after the undergrad program is completed to become more specialized. A good understanding of forest ecology, geology and biology is required.

3. What should i expect to do as a new forester?
Your new job will be kind of what we call 'grunt' work where you work under someone , more or less as an apprentice. Your work will be supervised and scrutinzed. Don't expect to rise to the top very quickly as most folks will require at least 3 to 5 years experience from you to advance a level.

4. What high school courses should i take as i am only in 9th grade?

Biology, chemistry, physics, geology, mathematics, computers, technical writing

5. What should be my college major and minor?
Major in forestry, minor in whatever sparks your interest (GIS, wildlife, ecology, hydrology) [In New Brunswick Forestry School the minor was in Wildlife management which was a large work load on top of the core forestry courses. We were required to do an undergraduate thesis]

6. What is the average salary for a forester?
Beginning full time salary in $CDN is $32,000 and increases with experience and abilities.

7. Where should I go to become a forester?

University such as Vtech and others in the states, UNB in New Brunswick Canada, UBC and UNBC in British Columbia, Canada.

8. What should i do now in preparations to become a forester?
See if yout school offers an apprenticeship program with a forest assocation or company. I worked with summer students for 8 years in previous employment who had cooperative programs at high school. After graduation from college, join your local or state Professional Forestry association.

9. What are the physicla aspects of becoming a forester?
Good physical condition, stamina, tolerance to biting insects and cold, hot and wet weather. Strong work ethic with a willingness to stay a little extra longer occassionally to complete a job. (sometimes this gets to be more frequent that you'de like).

10. What is the demand for foresters?
Inthe global economy foresters are becoming less in demand, most have become more specialized in GIS, silviculture and harvesting (heavy equipment operators), teaching

11. Do you always work in the woods or do you have an office?
Most have an office, but initially your in the field 80 % of the time which becomes less frequent with senority and experience. Usually a job is completed out of an office because there is always paper work.

12. Do you enjoy being a forester?

I'de do nothing else.

13. Could i be a forester and work in new yor city?
If you have a horseshoe and strong background in parks and recreation.

14. Why did you want to become a forester?

Grew up enjoying the woods, cutting wood and with an interst in forest ecology, forest plants and wildlife.

15. What should i be able to do before i can become a forester?
Be computer literate, good communication and interpersonal skills (writing an speaking), speak with confidence with peers and the public, be inquisitive and willing to learn new things.

16. If i were to become a forester should i be a foresters in my local area or out of state?

Go where the job takes you, but don't jump at the first opertunity without considering all the options. Get the job prospectus in writing.

17. What are some jobs related to forester?
Forest technicians, Forest engineers, ecologist, soil scientist, tree physiologist, biologist

18. Is a forester a world-wide job?
Yes. I know of some Canadian  foresters that work for companies that operate world wide or have contacts world wide. They fly to Scandanavia, Russia, Poland, Venzuala, NZ and the USA.

19. What age should i start out as a forester?
Depending on your training and education, you may be ready at aged 23 with also a little luck on your side. Also, depends alot on who you know and how well received you are.

20. Do foresters work in every state in the u.s.?
As far as I know, yes. Certainly the case in all the provinces in Canada.

I'm IM you my business card

cheers