Careers: Forester
Forester
This job is right for you if….
You have a passion for land management, conservation, and rehabilitation and are interested in work-like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
Fast Facts:
Maine has 65 species of trees and only 20 are primarily used for the use of lumber and paper-making. Foresters have extensive knowledge of trees that make up Maine’s forests.
What They Do:
Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber’s worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.
Basic Skills:
- keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
- reading work-related information
People & Technology Systems;
- thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
- figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
They do well at jobs that need:
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Independence
Median Hourly Earnings:
$26.28
Job Types Include:
- Forest Engineer
- Senior Forest Industrial Manager
- Forest Technicians
- Forest and Land-Use Planners
Maine Based Resources To Get Training: Forester
Entry-Level Education
H.S/G.E.D
Currently, there are four Forestry/Wood Harvesting programs in Maine, all offer Certified Logging Professional (CLP) apprenticeship certification to successful graduates. These programs accept high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Training lasts between one and three years depending on the individual school.
- Oxford Hills Tech School – Norway, Maine
- Foster Technology Center – Farmington, Maine
- Region 9 School of Applied Technology – Rumford, Maine
- Region 2 School of Applied Technology – Dyer Brook, Maine
- The University of Maine – Fort Kent, ME Offers an Applied Forest Management Program as a pathway to becoming a Maine Licensed Forester.
Maine Community College System
Community Colleges offer programs that prospective foresters would enjoy. Degree and certificate programs that cover topics such as sustainability and conservation.
- Northern Maine Community College – Presque Isle, Maine
- Central Maine Community College – Auburn, Maine
- Eastern Maine Community College – Bangor, Maine
- Kennebec Valley Community College – Fairfield and Hinkley, Maine
- Southern Maine Community College – South Portland, Maine
- Washington County Community College – Calais, Maine
- York County Community College – Wells, Maine
University of Maine- Forestry
- The University of Maine at Orono- four-year undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Forestry, Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Sustainable Materials and Technology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystem Ecology Concentration
- The University of Maine at Fort Kent- Four-year undergraduate and postgraduate degree in Forestry, Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Sustainable Materials and Technology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystem Ecology Concentration
Professional Training
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Offers certification of the SFI Program as well as ongoing training on sustainable practices.
Find Out More!
Interested in finding out more about forestry positions, businesses, and careers here in Maine? Simply share some information below and we’ll have an industry representative reach out directly to you!