Forest and Conservation Technicians

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

Also Known As:

Biological Science Aide Forest Technician Forestry Aide Forestry Technician (Forestry Tech) Resource Technician Timber Appraiser

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Forest and Conservation Technicians in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

32,700

-3% Change From 2024

Explore Conservation Scientists video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Thin and space trees and control weeds and undergrowth, using manual tools and chemicals, or supervise workers performing these tasks.
Patrol park or forest areas to protect resources and prevent damage.
Measure distances, clean sightlines, and record data to help survey crews.
Survey, measure, and map access roads and forest areas such as burns, cut-over areas, experimental plots, and timber sales sections.
Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
Patrol park or forest areas to protect resources and prevent damage.
Map forest tract data using digital mapping systems.
Conduct laboratory or field experiments with plants, animals, insects, diseases, and soils.
Supervise forest nursery operations, timber harvesting, land use activities such as livestock grazing, and disease or insect control programs.
Map forest tract data using digital mapping systems.
Manage forest protection activities, including fire control, fire crew training, and coordination of fire detection and public education programs.
Select and mark trees for thinning or logging, drawing detailed plans that include access roads.
Select and mark trees for thinning or logging, drawing detailed plans that include access roads.
Survey, measure, and map access roads and forest areas such as burns, cut-over areas, experimental plots, and timber sales sections.
Provide forestry education and general information, advice, and recommendations to woodlot owners, community organizations, and the general public.
Provide information about, and enforce, regulations, such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety, and accident prevention.
Inspect trees and collect samples of plants, seeds, foliage, bark, and roots to locate insect and disease damage.
Measure distances, clean sightlines, and record data to help survey crews.
Train and lead forest and conservation workers in seasonal activities, such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
Map forest tract data using digital mapping systems.
Keep records of the amount and condition of logs taken to mills.
Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors.
Perform reforestation or forest renewal, including nursery and silviculture operations, site preparation, seeding and tree planting programs, cone collection, and tree improvement.
Plan and supervise construction of access routes and forest roads.
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.
Conduct laboratory or field experiments with plants, animals, insects, diseases, and soils.
Conduct laboratory or field experiments with plants, animals, insects, diseases, and soils.
Develop and maintain computer databases.
Inspect trees and collect samples of plants, seeds, foliage, bark, and roots to locate insect and disease damage.
Issue fire permits, timber permits, and other forest use licenses.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.