Is forestry a viable career anymore?

[Phorester]

Not knowing what the forestry situation and landowner situation is in Poland I can only offer you my perspective on my own job.

I am employed by a State Forestry Agency to work with private forestland owners.  In the Southern USA well over half of all forestland is privately owned.  In Virginia, about 80% is privately owned, 10% industry owned, 10% government. 

My primary job task is to write forest management plans for private landowners.  I include forest botany, biology, insect and disease problems, soils, past management history, future expectations based on soils and tree species present, etc.  I couple this biological information with what the landowner wants to do with his property - hunting, income from timber sales, recreation, etc., or a combination of these. I give him management recommendations in the plan.  Then I follow through with him over the years helping him carry out as many of these recommendations as he wants to do.  Those recomendations might inculde conducting timber harvests, converting one forest type to another (poor quality hardwood to pine, usually), creating wildlife habitat, tree planting projects, etc.

In the USA the largest employer of Foresters is government - State and Federal.  Private industry is the second largest. Third is educational - college professors etc. Way down the list is self-employment.

[Dezian]

Thank you Phorester I find these infos helpful. It's important for me to get to know how the job looks like in different parts of the world. You know, I think that IF I find a job after my studies, it will be in one of national parks. That means, the "industrial" specialization may be not the right one for me. But, I belive I will be able to catch up with any shortages in botany or dendrology, whereas the engineer skills I can gain only at the university (I'm not smart enough nor strong-willed to master them single-handed). They may be useful, you never know.

Guys, each one post similar to Phorester's one will be deeply appreciated 

[MichHunter]

As someone interested in a career in forestry, I appreciate everything that has been posted on here over the last few years.  The good, bad, and ugly help me to look at things from different views and attitudes.

[Warbird]

Hi MichHunter, and welcome to the Forestry Forum.  As you have discovered, there is a wealth of information here.  Pull up a stump and make yourself at home!

[jim king]

What ever you decide to do is up to you but in my opinion it would not be a wise choice to get into tropical forestry as it is operated by the Non Profit industry and they have never set foot in a jungle.  BUT the pay is good if you want to lean that way and you never get your shoes dirty.