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More Forestry 101. Foresters and forestry: Who are these people and what do they do?. FREMO Workshop Annapolis, MD September 19, 2007. Forestry:
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More Forestry 101 Foresters and forestry: Who are these people and what do they do? FREMO Workshop Annapolis, MD September 19, 2007
Forestry: • the profession embracing the science, art, and practice of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources for human benefit and in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs and values; • the broad field of forestry consists of those biological, quantitative, managerial, and social sciences that are applied to forest management and conservation; • it includes specialized fields such as agroforestry, urban forestry, industrial forestry, non-industrial forestry, and wilderness and recreation forestry • (Source: The Dictionary of Forestry, 1998, John Helms, ed.)
Forester A professional engaged in the science and profession of forestry
Where to foresters come from? • 4-year programs at colleges and universities • Approximately 65 • 50 are accredited by the Society of American Foresters as professional forestry degree programs • 2-year technician programs • 21 programs in the U.S. and 2 programs in Canada are SAF-accredited forestry technology programs
Where to foresters come from? • Graduate degree programs – too numerous to count! • PhD programs – yield scientists and academicians • Master’s programs • M.S. in Forest Resource Management • M.S. in Forestry • M.F. – Master’s of Forestry (non-thesis) • M.S. in Natural Resources • Etc.
Where to do foresters work? • Private sector foresters • Consulting foresters – individuals and firms • Resource inventories • Management plans • Plan and conduct timber sales • Timber trespass and damage appraisal • Forest taxation • Environmental NGO’s • Technical work • Education • Advocacy and policy
Where to do foresters work? • Forest industry • Procurement foresters – at mills, with private landowners • Land managers – a T&E species! • TIMO’s and REIT’s (Timber investment management organizations) (Real estate investment trusts)
Organizations • Professional organizations • Society of American Foresters (SAF) • Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF) • National Association of State Foresters (NASF) • National Association of University Forest Resource Programs (NAUFRP) • Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (ANREP) • Ecological Society of America (ESA) • International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) • Many others!
Organizations • Trade organizations • American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) • Forest Resource Association • National Hardwood Lumber Association • Individual state Forestry Associations • Many others!
Forestry organizations • National, state, regional, and county organizations • Examples: • National Woodland Owners Association • American Forest Foundation/Tree Farm System • Forest Landowner Association • Forest Landowners of California • New Hampshire Timber Land Associations • Ohio Forestry Association
Where to do foresters work? • Public agencies • State forestry agencies • Soil & Water Conservation Districts • Forest Service • Bureau of Land Management • Department of Defense • Army Corps of Engineers • Fish and Wildlife Service • Natural Resources Conservation Service
Where to do foresters work? • Cooperative Extension System • State Extension Specialists • District Extension Specialists • County-based Extension Agents/Extension Educators • Multi-state, regional committees • Western Extension Forestry Coordinating Committee (WCC) • Northeast Forest Resources Extension Committee (NEFREC) • Southern Region Extension Forestry (SREF) • Regional Extension Forester co-funded by 18 Extension Directors; travel and project funding provided by USDA Forest Service • 350 forestry/wood products extension educators in current directory
Extension Forestry Audiences • Traditional audiences: • Private forest landowners • “Non-industrial private forestland owners” (NIPF’s) – yuck! • Family forestland owners – not much better! • 11 million of them!!! (1-1000 acres) • 4 million own 10-1000 acres • Old, white, and male • Many studies of these folks have been done • Very heterogeneous group
Extension Forestry Audiences • Loggers
Extension Forestry Audiences • Small- and medium scale forest products companies • Sawmills • Dry kilns • Portable sawmill owners • Furniture and other wood products • Retail and marketing companies
Forest fragmentation, parcelization and conversion Invasive species Wildland fire Climate change Global markets for wood and paper products Inter-generational transfer of private lands Forest policies – local, state, national Forest taxation Forest health Forest management intensity Endangered species Landscape-scale resource management Biodiversity Water quality and quantity Ecosystem services Carbon sequestration Wildlife-urban interface Sustainability What are the issues? And many more
When you consider the range and complexity of forest resource issues, there are many other very important audiences who affect, and are affected by forests: • State and local elected and appointed officials who are responsible for planning • Land developers • Policy makers • Urban forest stakeholders • Accountants • Realtors
Summary • Complex and complicated natural resource issues require the involvement of everyone --- professional, volunteer, and public --- who can help. • Foresters and the practice of forestry are an important component of the natural resource professional community that is comprised of every natural resource and environmental profession.
…and some favorite forestry quotes Every day is Earth Day for a forester Forestry isn’t rocket science --- it’s much harder May the forest be with you!