Forest and Conservation Workers

Career Description: Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect forest, forested areas, and woodlands through such activities as raising and transporting tree seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to trees; and building erosion and water control structures and leaching of forest soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, and tree planters.

Industry: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

Other Job Titles for Forest and Conservation Workers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
• Confer with other workers to discuss issues such as safety, cutting heights, and work needs.
• Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
• Perform fire protection and suppression duties such as constructing fire breaks and disposing of brush.
• Select and cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, and grades.
• Identify diseased or undesirable trees, and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
• Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects and to protect against disease, and with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
• Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
• Thin and space trees, using power thinning saws.
• Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking and measuring efforts.
• Gather, package, and deliver forest products to buyers.
• Erect signs and fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.
• Prune or shear tree tops and limbs in order to control growth, increase density, and improve shape.
• Select tree seedlings, prepare the ground, and plant the trees in reforestation areas, using manual planting tools.
• Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, and setting stakes.
• Explain and enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of building and sanitation.
• Operate a skidder, bulldozer or other prime mover to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
• Examine and grade trees according to standard charts, and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs.
• Sort and separate tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts and verbal instructions.
• Maintain campsites and recreational areas, replenishing firewood and other supplies, and cleaning kitchens and restrooms.
• Sow and harvest cover crops such as alfalfa.
• Transport fish to processing plants or to buyers.
• Interpret weather and vessel conditions to determine appropriate responses.
• Wash decks, conveyors, knives, and other equipment, using brushes, detergents, and water.
• Connect accessories such as floats, weights, flags, lights, or markers to nets, lines, or traps.
• Load and unload vessel equipment and supplies, by hand or using hoisting equipment.
• Harvest marine life for human or animal consumption, using diving or dredging equipment, traps, barges, rods, reels, and/or tackle.
• Hire qualified crew members, and assign their duties.
• Plan fishing operations, establishing the fish to be sought, the fishing location, the method of capture, and the duration of the trip.
• Stand lookout for schools of fish, and for steering and engine-room watches.

Emerging Tasks

• Bathe and groom animals.
• Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition.
• Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• clean rooms or work areas
• grade, classify, or sort products according to specifications
• identify crop characteristics
• identify diseased, weak or undesirable trees
• interpret aerial photographs
• load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
• move or fit heavy objects
• package goods for shipment or storage
• plant, cultivate, or harvest crops, including aquaculture
• read maps
• read measuring or metering devices used in forestry
• recognize plant diseases
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• recognize wood species characteristics
• understand second language
• use chain saws
• use fire suppression equipment
• use fire suppression techniques
• use hand or power tools
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use plant disease control techniques
• use portable hand spray equipment
• use knowledge of seamanship or boat handling
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
• resolve logging operation problems
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• understand second language
• use chain saws
• use oral or written communication techniques
• plan or organize work
• prepare or maintain employee records
• prepare reports
• recognize disease or parasites in animals
• recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
• recruit employees
• requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
• resolve agricultural production problems
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• schedule employee work hours
• study production records
• transport passengers or cargo
• treat medical condition of patient
• understand second language
• use animal disease control techniques
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use oral or written communication techniques
• requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
• resolve agricultural production problems
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• resolve personnel problems or grievances
• schedule activities, classes, or events
• schedule employee work hours
• transport passengers or cargo
• understand second language
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use plant disease control techniques

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$9.86
• Average annual wage (2007) - $20,510.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 5.52%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 1,095
• Employment (2006): 19,844

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• Farmworkers, Farm and Ranch Animals
• Nonfarm Animal Caretakers
• Nursery Workers
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• Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
• Slaughterers and Meat Packers
• Nursery and Greenhouse Managers
• Range Managers