We live in a world which is living and thriving with all kinds of flora and fauna. As the leader of the living being and regarded as the most intelligent being it becomes our duty to preserve life on the planet. Today almost 31% of the world’s land surface is covered with Forests. That is about 4.6 billion hectares. In India the percentage is 21.71% I.e., 7,13,789 square kilometres. It is the job of the Forestry professionals to preserve and maintain these forests.

What is Forestry?

Forestry is the science or practice of planting,managing,conserving, and maintaining forests and its associated resources with the aim of meeting the goal of human benefit.

Forestry is the art and science of land and forest management. Its goal is to optimize the use of the areas covered under forests for commercial, industrial and recreational purposes while conserving the natural resources and protecting the environment for the future.

Professional forestry consists of a range of diverse jobs that can occur in the forest or in an office where plans and policies are decided. They include planning,advising,directing,approving,supervising,engaging in, and reporting services.

Professional forestry includes services related to inventory, classification,valuation,appraisal, conservation,protection,management,enhancement,harvesting, silviculture, and rehabilitation of trees, forest resources, forest transportation systems and forest.

 

What is a Forestry Professional?

A practitioner of Forestry is known as Forester or Forestry Professional.

A Forestry Professional is an expert in land and forest management who must keep a balance between planning the usage of forest lands and protecting them. In other words, “Sustainability” is the primary goal of the forestry professional.

Forestry Professionals do research, develop plans and administer programs related to the management and harvesting of natural resources in the forest.

Forestry Professionals work in the forest industry, provincial and federal governments, consulting companies, educational institutions or other industries. Some of them are also self-employed.

 

There are two main types of Forest Professionals.

• Registered Forest Technologist (RFT) 

Registered Forest Technologist holds a two-year post-secondary diploma. He is mainly involved in technical forest management activities such as forest measurements,silviculture, and forest operations. and forest protection.

• Registered Professional Forester (RPF) 

Registered Professional Forester (RPF) holds a four-year post-secondary degree. He is involved in all aspects of managing the forest and how it will be used and cared for.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Forestry Professionals 

Although the specific tasks of the forest professional vary from region to region, we still bring out the general tasks of them.

• The forest professionals plan and direct forest surveys and related studies. They have to prepare reports on findings, conclusions and recommendations.

• They create short-term and long-term plans for the management of forest lands and resources. This is done by compiling and evaluating Geographical Information System (GIS) data and aerial photographs to identify trends in forest and land usage.
• They plan and direct woodland harvesting, road building, and reforestation programs. They also plan silviculture, prevention and suppression of fire, wildlife management, environmental protection, and insect and vegetable control.
• They must ensure adherence to government regulations and forest company goals.
• They must evaluate the health and growth of the trees using tools like clinometers and bark gauges to estimate timber volumes.
• They oversee contract compliance and results of forest activities.

• Their job is to advise, recommend and provide other consultative services about forestry matters to private woodlot owners, municipal, provisional or federal government or forest companies.

 

How can you become a Forest Professional?

There are many skills that are vital for professional foresters. Here are a few of them.

• Physical Stamina
• Management and supervisory skills
• Communication Skills
• Analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills
• Informed decision-making skills

Since forestry is more of a science you must take courses in STEM. This is because it will help you to build a solid foundation that will serve you well in your future career in forestry.

Indian Forest Services Pathway 

You can do a bachelor’s degree in any of the following subjects:

• Agriculture

• Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Forestry
• Geology

• Mathematics
• Physics
• Statistics
• Zoology
• Silviculture

• Forest Products
• Commercial Forestry
• Agroforestry
• Forest Economics
• Wood Science & Tech.

• Tree Genetics & Breeding

 

You can take a master’s degree in the following subjects.

• M.Sc. in Forestry

• M.Sc. in wildlife
• M.Sc. in Wood Science & Tech.
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Agroforestry
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Forest Products
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Tree Improvements

• Masters in wildlife sciences.

 

In case you want to go for an M.Phil./PhD degree in forestry there are more career opportunities as well as a hike in salary.

Candidates can take certificate & Diploma courses in Forestry. Here are a few of them.

• Diploma in Zoo and Wild Animal Health Care and Management

• Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management (PGDFM)
• Post master’s Diploma Non-Wood Forest Products.

 

Eligibility to get admission in Forestry Courses 

After clearing their 10+2 examination with science, the candidates must pass All India Entrance Exam of ICAR (ICAR AIEEA 2023) for admission to agriculture universities that offer Forestry courses. Various Universities/Institutions have their own entrance examination for providing admission.

Here are few of the Universities/Colleges that offer forestry courses in India.

• Dr BR Ambedkar University, Uttar Pradesh
• GB. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar
• Arid Forest Research institute, Jodhpur
• Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal

• Forest Research Institute University, DehraDun
• Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal Pradesh
• Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
• Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur
• Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore

Educational Fees 

The educational fees to become a forestry professional in India varies depending on the level of education and the institution. Here is the approximate costs for you to complete the degree in forestry.

• For a bachelor’s degree in forestry the average tuition fees in India is between Rs 50,000 to Rs 150,000 per year.
• For a master’s degree in forestry the cost ranges from Rs 70,000 to Rs 2.50,000 per annum.

• For the Ph.D. in forestry the average tuition fees is Rs 50,000 to Rs 150,000 per year.

Students also have to bear the cost of accommodation,food,books,and other expenses. However, Scholarships and financial aid programs are also available to eligible students.

 

Why should you become a Forestry Professional?

Today modern forestry management has become very complicated and diverse. The need to understand the subject of forestry has become essential. The forestry professionals who are thoroughly equipped with the relevant skills, education and experience of forestry are now employed by the forestry management.

These professionals can easily guide the decision-making and policy making of forest land management. The forestry professional specializes in problem solving, technical science, prescription,interpretation.assessment, judgement,computation,monitoring,optimization,negotiation, management, supervision, and written verbal communication.

 

The forest professional must coordinate with many people from different profiles like landowners,purchasers,managers,technicians,contractors,and other professionals to implement projects important to manage the forest for renewable commodities and natural resource values.

These forestry professionals are now employed to advise and inform the management of the valued forestland assets. These professionals are now the decision-maker or the managers who direct operations and programs. Forestry jobs require a unique combination of intellectually demanding work that is often located outdoors in the forest.

Here are a few of the Forester Job profiles who are employed in the decision-making process by the forestry management.

• Archaeologist 

The Forest archeologist is a forestry professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of cultural, historic and prehistoric, and historic preservation on forestland properties.

He is an expert in anthropology and cultural science with a bachelor’s degree in archaeology,anthropology or cultural resources, and related experience.

• Biologist – Wildlife/Fisheries 

The forest biologist is a forestry professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of plants, animals, birds, fish, other biota, and their terrestrial & aquatic habitats on forestland properties. Duties may include ecological resources.

Forest biologist is dedicated to sound biologic science and species management and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in biology or forest ecology, and related experience.

• Ecologist 

The forest ecologist is a forestry professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of abiotic and biotic ecosystems, invasive species, and species terrestrial & aquatic habitats on forestland properties.

Forest ecologist is dedicated to sound ecologic science and ecosystems management and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in ecology or biology, and related experience.

• Economist/Accountant 

The forest economist is a forestry professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the micro- and macro-economic implications of forest management activities conducted on forestland properties.

Forest economist is dedicated to sound economic principles, financial & cost accounting, generally accepted accounting principles, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in economics, accounting, or forest management, and related experience.

• Engineer 

The forest engineer is a professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the design, construction, operation and maintenance concerning forest infrastructure such as roads, logging-transportation systems, bridges, structures, drainage, facilities and trails located on forestland properties.

Forest engineers are dedicated to sound engineering principles and infrastructure effectiveness and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forest engineering and related experience.

• Entomologist/Pathologist 

Entomology is the study of forest insect pests while pathology is the study and prevention of forest diseases. The forest entomologist/pathologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to healthy forestland property management of one or both specialized fields.

Forest entomologist, or pathologist, is dedicated to forest health, sound science, and ecosystems management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forest entomology, forest pathology, or forest health, and related experience.

• Environmental/Legal Coordinator

The forest environmental coordinator is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to regulatory compliance with environmental laws during forest management operations. Coordinator assures legal requirements are accomplished for environmental protection, contracting, project design, liability, insurance, litigation, legal defence, environmental documentation & records, forest planning, and land use law.

Environmental coordinator is dedicated to sound legal and business practices, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in business, environmental science, or forestry and related experience.

• Extension/Forest Interpretation/Educator

The forest educator is a forestry professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the education of people about forest science, management, public uses, and benefits of forests and forestland properties.

Forest educator is dedicated to sound educational principles, extension of knowledge about forests, interpretation and visitor administration, natural resource management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in education, interpretation, outdoor recreation or natural resources, and related experience.

• Fire Management Officer 

The forest fire management officer is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the managed use of prescribed fire, the prevention of unwanted fires, as well as firefighting wildfires on forestland properties.

Forest fire management officer is dedicated to sound fire science, climatology, air quality and fire management, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forest fire science, forestry, or forest health, and related experience.

• Forest Operations Business Manager  

The forest operations manager is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the business functions of a private forest management firm, such as accounting, personnel, asset management, financial & budgeting, forestry operations, harvest planning, stand management, contracting, logistics, legal matters, and so forth.

Forest business manager is dedicated to sound business practices and applicable laws and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forest operations, business or management, and related experience.

•  Forester 

The forester is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the forest growing, harvesting, protection, accessibility, productivity, and sustainability on forestland properties.

Foresters are dedicated to sound forest science, management and conservation, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forestry and related experience.

• Geographic Information Systems Specialist – Cartographer  

The forest cartographer is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the electronic mapping, spatial data computing, remote sensing, and imagery interpretation applicable to the management of forestland properties.

Forest cartographer is dedicated to sound geographic information management and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in GIS systems or cartography, and related experience.

• Geologist/Geo technical Engineer  

A forest geologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of forest Geo technical engineering, geology resources, land movement, quarry and excavation on forestland properties.

Forest geologists are dedicated to sound geologic science and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in geology or soil science, and related experience.

• Lobbyist – Government Affairs/Policy 

The forest policy lobbyist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the policy making, lawmaking, forest planning and communication, surrounding government policies that govern forestland property management.

Forest policy lobbyists are dedicated to sound representation of effective forest management policies and practices, ethical lobbying, accurate communication, business principles and balanced public policy, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in political science, forest management or public policy, and related experience.

• Hydrologist 

The forest hydrologist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the operations management of forest water resources—such as streams, wetlands, lakes, bogs, springs or watersheds—and aquatic habitat on forestland properties.

Forest hydrologist is dedicated to sound hydrologic science and water quality management and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in hydrology or forest watersheds, and related experience.

• Information Technology (IT) Specialist 

The forest information technology (IT) specialist is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the electronic information storage, computing, database management, field data recording, software applications, internet services, optimization programs, mapping, and spatial data applicable to the management of forestland properties.

Forest IT specialist is dedicated to sound electronic information management and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer systems, or other related curriculum, and related experience.

•  Land Surveyor 

The forest land surveyor is a land managing professional who provides sound knowledge and techniques of surveying measurement, relevant law, adequate evidence, which are requisite to surveying of real property.

Land surveyors are dedicated to sound surveying practices and are credentialed by a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor.

• Landscape Architect 

The landscape architect is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of aesthetic and visual resources on forestland properties.

Forest landscape architect is dedicated to sound visual management science and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture or natural resources, and related experience.

• Logistics/Transportation/Forest Planner 

The forest logistics planner is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the allocation, scheduling, transportation and movement of forest products, workers, equipment, resources or materials—surrounding the management of forest projects and forestlands.

Forest logistics planners are dedicated to sound transportation, logistics principles and planning effectiveness, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in operations management, logistics, transportation or engineering, and related experience.

• Outdoor Recreation Director 

The forest recreation director is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the public uses of forests for enjoyment, lifestyle, aesthetics, cultural values, user access, or recreational opportunities on forestland properties.

Forest recreation director is dedicated to sound outdoor recreational science, natural resource management, interpretation and visitor administration, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation or natural resources, and related experience.

• Public Forest Administrator 

The forest public administrator is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the management of a government agency engaged in forestlands.

Public administrator is dedicated to sound forest science, management, conservation and public policy, and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in public administration, planning or forestry, and related experience.

•  Public Relations/Communication Manager 

The forest public relations manager is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the external and internal communications of a forest organization.

Public relations manager is dedicated to sound journalism principles, technical writing, environmental documentation, presentations, information technology, and communication about forest management, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, political science or forest management, and related experience.

•  Range Conservationist 

The forest range conservationist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the grazing management of forage resources located on forestland properties. Conservationist responsible for natural resource protection, forage utilization, grazing allotment planning, wildlife habitat, and wise use of forage for livestock and other ungulates.

Range conservationist is dedicated to sound range science and is credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in range conservationist or forest range resources or range ecology, and related experience.

• Silviculturist 

The silviculturist is a forestland managing professional who provides sound knowledge and administration skills to the forest growing, harvesting, protection, accessibility, productivity, and sustainability on forestland properties. Silviculturist is a specialised type of ‘forester’, who is focused on diagnosis, prescription, forest health, and reforestation. Silviculturists control establishment, growth, health and harvest of forests to meet the needs and values of forest landowners on a sustainable basis.

Silviculturists are dedicated to sound forest science, engineering, management and conservation, and are credentialed by a bachelor’s degree in forestry, extensive related forest management experience.

The Future Scenario 

The prospects of the forestry profession in India are very encouraging due to the increasing awareness and concern for environment conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.

As per the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the forestry and wildlife sector in India is projected to grow at a rate of 2.2% per year until 2025, creating job opportunities for around 2 million people.

The forestry sector in India is also expected to benefit from the growing demand for wood-based products, especially in the construction and furniture industries. According to the report by Research and Market, the India wood-based panel market is expected to grow at a rate of 6.8% per year until 2026 driven by the increasing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable materials.

Conclusion 

We as humans, the most intelligent being on the planet, have the responsibility of being the part of it as well as being the caretaker of it.We are destined to live here and use its resources in a responsible manner that ensures the vitality of the global environment for generations to come.

If you think you can be one of those people who want to protect the natural environment there are several conservation careers that you might like to pursue. One such role is the Forestry Professional.