Forest and Conservation Technicians

Career Description: Compile data pertaining to size, content, condition, and other characteristics of forest tracts, under direction of foresters; train and lead forest workers in forest propagation, fire prevention and suppression. May assist conservation scientists in managing, improving, and protecting rangelands and wildlife habitats, and help provide technical assistance regarding the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources.

Industry: Life, Physical, and Social Science

Other Job Titles for Forest and Conservation Technicians:

• 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

• Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires and maintaining recreational facilities.
• Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors.
• Select and mark trees for thinning or logging, drawing detailed plans that include access roads.
• Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
• Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
• Survey, measure, and map access roads and forest areas such as burns, cut-over areas, experimental plots, and timber sales sections.
• Patrol park or forest areas to protect resources and prevent damage.
• Provide information about, and enforce, regulations such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety and accident prevention.
• Keep records of the amount and condition of logs taken to mills.
• Supervise forest nursery operations, timber harvesting, land use activities such as livestock grazing, and disease or insect control programs.
• Issue fire permits, timber permits and other forest use licenses.
• Develop and maintain computer databases.
• Measure distances, clean site-lines, and record data to help survey crews.
• Plan and supervise construction of access routes and forest roads.
• Provide forestry education and general information, advice, and recommendations to woodlot owners, community organizations, and the general public.
• Perform reforestation, or forest renewal, including nursery and silviculture operations, site preparation, seeding and tree planting programs, cone collection, and tree improvement.
• Conduct laboratory or field experiments with plants, animals, insects, diseases and soils.
• Provide technical support to forestry research programs in areas such as tree improvement, seed orchard operations, insect and disease surveys, or experimental forestry and forest engineering research.
• Inspect trees and collect samples of plants, seeds, foliage, bark and roots to locate insect and disease damage.
• Install gauges, stream flow recorders, and soil moisture measuring instruments, and collect and record data from them to assist with watershed analysis.
• Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.
• Conduct applied research on environmental topics, such as waste control and treatment and pollution abatement methods.
• Design and build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects.
• Observe the production, distribution, and consumption of food to identify and mitigate threats to food security.
• Analyze and characterize user experiences and institutional settings to assist consumer product developers, technology developers, and software engineers with the design of innovative products and services.
• Build geographic information systems (GIS) to record, analyze, and cartographically represent the distribution of languages, cultural and natural resources, land use, and settlement patterns of specific populations.
• Observe and measure bodily variations and physical attributes of different human groups.

Emerging Tasks

• Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.
• Keep records, including taking photographs of evidence, and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
• Train new technicians and other personnel on forensic science techniques.
• Use chemicals and other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
• Supervise the work of others including interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.

• 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

• adhere to safety procedures
• advise clients or customers
• analyze adaptability of tree species to new environmental conditions
• analyze biological research, test, or analysis data
• analyze forest conditions to determine reasons for species prevalence
• analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
• classify plants, animals, or other natural phenomena
• collect geographic or physical data
• collect scientific or technical data
• collect statistical data
• communicate technical information
• compile numerical or statistical data
• conduct field research or investigative studies
• conduct laboratory research or experiments
• conduct land surveys
• conduct training for personnel
• control and extinguish municipal or forest fires
• determine best method for attacking fire
• determine negligence or violation of laws or regulations
• develop or maintain databases
• develop tables depicting data
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct and coordinate fire prevention and suppression activities
• direct construction of recreation facilities or fire safety features
• direct loading of fire suppression equipment
• direct workers in planting, irrigating, cultivating, harvesting, or marketing
• draw maps or charts
• enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
• ensure compliance with government regulations
• estimate standing timber or future growth
• explain complex mathematical information
• explain government laws or regulations
• follow safe waste disposal procedures
• give directions to crew on fire line during forest fire
• identify diseased, weak or undesirable trees
• identify plant characteristics
• interpret aerial photographs
• issue licenses or permits
• judge soil conditions
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make presentations
• observe fire to note changing conditions
• observe plants, flowers, shrubs or trees to ascertain condition
• obtain land survey data using surveying instruments
• obtain technical support instructions from scientists or engineers
• operate emergency fire or rescue equipment
• operate forestry equipment
• operate land or site surveying instruments
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• patrol or guard area or premises
• perform safety inspections in agricultural, forestry, or fishing setting
• perform statistical analysis
• plan forestation, reforestation, or range revegetation projects
• plan or organize work
• plant, cultivate, or harvest crops, including aquaculture
• prepare reports
• read maps
• read measuring or metering devices used in forestry
• read surveying instruments to measure property
• recognize plant diseases
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• recognize wood species characteristics
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• use biological research techniques
• use biological testing instruments
• use building or land use regulations
• use chain saws
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use fire suppression equipment
• use fire suppression techniques
• use forest fire protection methods
• use forestry, range, or other public land management techniques
• use government regulations
• use hazardous materials information
• use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of environmental laws and regulations
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of regulations in surveying or construction activities
• use laboratory equipment
• use land surveying techniques
• use long term forest or range land planning techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use plant disease control techniques
• use plant or crop transplant techniques
• use pollution control techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use timber grading standards
• use timber scaling procedures
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• work as a team member
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• write technical health or medical documents

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) -$16.12
• Average annual wage (2007) - $33,520.00

• Employment (2006): 33,829

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