1. Career in Forestry : Overview
Forestry is an important and interesting subject of study. Forestry involves protection
of forests and farming of trees to ensure contributing timber supply. Forester takes
care of forest resources by protecting them from fire, pests, disease, encroachment and
indiscriminate felling of trees. Forests form part of the vital natural resources of a
country. From time immemorial forest resources have been a source of human
sustenance. They are home to the most amazing herbs, medicinal compounds, natural
cosmetics etc. Forestry and Wild Life go together since forests serve as home for
wildlife. Forest wealth also contributes significantly to the economy of the country.
Specially trained personnel are therefore needed to maintain and regenerate the forest
cover, forest wealth and resources. This involves the services of forestry specialists,
forestry management experts and forest officers.
Forestry essentially entails outdoor work. You'll be spending most of your time mapping forested areas,
particularly during the initial years of your career. If you take this up as a career, you can choose to work
for:
• Indian Forest Service
• Forest Management
• Forest Research
• Wildlife Biology/Management
• Others, like Plantation forestry
Indian Forest Service & State Forest Service
There are many wild life species in India that are endangered and need to be protected and conserved. As
an Indian Forest Service or State Forest Service Officer, your core job will be protection and conservation of
forest resources and wild life.
In India, there are over 500 protected forest areas. If you get a job in one of these areas, you will be
devising, implementing and monitoring detailed management plans. You will be constantly monitoring
habitat parameters, resources and human population. You will also be in charge of preservation and
protection of forests from campers and poachers.
Forest Management
As a forest management professional, your core job will be managing forest resources in such a way that
they are not depleted. You will prepare documents about forest resources such as timber, ground for cattle
grazing, shelter for wild animals, food and water for animals, etc. You will also identify areas, which require
particular attention for fresh planting, felling, and thinning of dense forests or pruning, or pest control.
You will also plan wildlife reserves, roads leading to interesting spots, recreation points, lakes, etc. You will
supervise the crew conducting these assignments and maintain progress records.
Forest Research
There are a number of areas in which you can be involved. You may choose to be involved in research in
various areas. For instance:

2. Biological diversity: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you will find out how biological communities are
organised; what is the impact of various forms of land use on the levels of biological diversity; how we can
preserve biological diversity, etc
Human Ecology: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll find out what role man plays in biological
communities. How do his activities affect productivity and diversity of biological communities?
Eco-development: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll break your head to find out how humans can
manage the ecological environment and improve the habitat. How can we improve the efficiency of the use
of fuel, fodder, construction material, etc., to reduce demand for these materials?
Climate Change and Tropical Forests: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll study the impact of
climatic change on forests. You will find out the potential of forestry as an option for improving the
environment.
Animal Communication: It will be exciting to find out song pattern recognition in insects (say, cricket or
grasshoppers), communication signals during courtship and their role in male mating success in this field of
Forestry & Wildlife.
Wildlife Biology And Management: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll identify wild life habitats,
carry out census, devise plans for conservation and monitor the implementation of the plans.
Plantation Forestry: In this field of Forestry & Wildlife you'll standardise fertiliser dosage for plants, say,
for teak plantation. You will recommend where to plant the trees and conservation policies.
1. Job Categories
o Forestry occupations fall into three main categories: government foresters, industrial
foresters and consulting foresters. Government foresters take care of government-owned
forests and parks that are essentially public property. Industrial foresters work within the
private sector and make a living by helping their employers procure timber and other
related raw materials for business. Consulting foresters work more as researchers and
supervisors. They advise businesses on the best way to harvest the forest, and may offer
consultancy on how to enrich business.
Other Forestry Jobs
o Other openings within the industry range anywhere from geographic information specialists
(GISs), geomatics specialists (who gather and compile geographic data), academics and
researchers, forest health specialists and surveyors.
Forestry jobs also include protection officers and forest firefighters, biologists, ecologists or
watershed managers.
The forestry industry could also employ specialists who are completely unrelated to forestry,
such as economists, marketing specialists, business analysts and natural resource policy
analysts.
There are various openings in the forestry industry in both the private and public sectors.
Some potential employers are the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest

3. Service, which is a civil service department; the Department of the Interior; the North
American Forestry Associations; and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Requirements
o Because of the wide range of jobs within the industry, each state has specific requirements
for a career in the forest industry. A basic degree called Bachelor of Science (BSc) in forestry
is usually preferred for entry level. This puts a person on the road to becoming either a
registered or licensed forester.
Wages
o Wages for this industry present a mix of the high and the low. As of 2004 (the latest year for
which data has been compiled), the mean wage for forestry teachers, the highest paid
position in this department, was $62,401 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The lower-paying jobs in the forestry industry include forestry and conservation scientist
positions; forestry workers in those positions earned an average of $43,282.
Job Prospects
o The prospects for forestry industry jobs are bright, with a large segment of existing forestry
workers scheduled for retirement between 2009 and 2016, according to the BLS. Moreover,
BLS reports that forestry is an ever-evolving area, so the job market within the field is
continually advancing.