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 4-year programs at colleges and universities Approximately 65 Approximately are accredited by the Society of American Foresters as professional forestry degree programs 50 are accredited by the Society of American Foresters as professional forestry degree programs 2-year technician programs 2-year technician programs 21 programs in the U.S. and 2 programs in Canada are SAF-accredited forestry technology 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! Graduate degree programs – too numerous to count! PhD programs – yield scientists and academicians PhD programs – yield scientists and academicians Master’s programs Master’s programs M.S. in Forest Resource Management M.S. in Forest Resource Management M.S. in Forestry M.S. in Forestry M.F. – Master’s of Forestry (non-thesis) M.F. – Master’s of Forestry (non-thesis) M.S. in Natural Resources M.S. in Natural Resources Etc. Etc.

Where to do foresters work? Private sector foresters Private sector foresters Consulting foresters – individuals and firms Consulting foresters – individuals and firms Resource inventories Resource inventories Management plans Management plans Plan and conduct timber sales Plan and conduct timber sales Timber trespass and damage appraisal Timber trespass and damage appraisal Forest taxation Forest taxation Environmental NGO’s Environmental NGO’s Technical work Technical work Education Education Advocacy and policy Advocacy and policy

Where to do foresters work? Forest industry Forest industry Procurement foresters – at mills, with private landowners Procurement foresters – at mills, with private landowners Land managers – a T&E species! Land managers – a T&E species! TIMO’s and REIT’s TIMO’s and REIT’s (Timber investment management organizations) (Real estate investment trusts)

Organizations Professional organizations Professional organizations Society of American Foresters (SAF) Society of American Foresters (SAF) Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF) Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF) National Association of State Foresters (NASF) National Association of State Foresters (NASF) National Association of University Forest Resource Programs (NAUFRP) National Association of University Forest Resource Programs (NAUFRP) Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (ANREP) Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (ANREP) Ecological Society of America (ESA) Ecological Society of America (ESA) International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Many others! Many others!

Organizations Trade organizations Trade organizations American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) Forest Resource Association Forest Resource Association National Hardwood Lumber Association National Hardwood Lumber Association Individual state Forestry Associations Individual state Forestry Associations Many others! Many others!

Forestry organizations National, state, regional, and county organizations National, state, regional, and county organizations Examples: Examples: National Woodland Owners Association National Woodland Owners Association American Forest Foundation/Tree Farm System American Forest Foundation/Tree Farm System Forest Landowner Association Forest Landowner Association Forest Landowners of California Forest Landowners of California New Hampshire Timber Land Associations New Hampshire Timber Land Associations Ohio Forestry Association Ohio Forestry Association

Where to do foresters work? Public agencies Public agencies State forestry agencies State forestry agencies Soil & Water Conservation Districts Soil & Water Conservation Districts Forest Service Forest Service Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management Department of Defense Department of Defense Army Corps of Engineers Army Corps of Engineers Fish and Wildlife Service Fish and Wildlife Service Natural Resources Conservation Service Natural Resources Conservation Service

Where to do foresters work? Cooperative Extension System Cooperative Extension System State Extension Specialists State Extension Specialists District Extension Specialists District Extension Specialists County-based Extension Agents/Extension Educators County-based Extension Agents/Extension Educators Multi-state, regional committees Multi-state, regional committees Western Extension Forestry Coordinating Committee (WCC) Western Extension Forestry Coordinating Committee (WCC) Northeast Forest Resources Extension Committee (NEFREC) Northeast Forest Resources Extension Committee (NEFREC) Southern Region Extension Forestry (SREF) Southern Region Extension Forestry (SREF) Regional Extension Forester co-funded by 18 Extension Directors; travel and project funding provided by USDA Forest Service 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 350 forestry/wood products extension educators in current directory

Extension Forestry Audiences Traditional audiences: Traditional audiences: Private forest landowners Private forest landowners “Non-industrial private forestland owners” (NIPF’s) – yuck! “Non-industrial private forestland owners” (NIPF’s) – yuck! Family forestland owners – not much better! Family forestland owners – not much better! 11 million of them!!! ( acres) 11 million of them!!! ( acres) 4 million own acres 4 million own acres Old, white, and male Old, white, and male Many studies of these folks have been done Many studies of these folks have been done Very heterogeneous group Very heterogeneous group

Extension Forestry Audiences Loggers Loggers

Extension Forestry Audiences Small- and medium scale forest products companies Small- and medium scale forest products companies Sawmills Sawmills Dry kilns Dry kilns Portable sawmill owners Portable sawmill owners Furniture and other wood products Furniture and other wood products Retail and marketing companies Retail and marketing companies

What are the issues? Forest fragmentation, parcelization and conversion Forest fragmentation, parcelization and conversion Invasive species Invasive species Wildland fire Wildland fire Climate change Climate change Global markets for wood and paper products Global markets for wood and paper products Inter-generational transfer of private lands Inter-generational transfer of private lands Forest policies – local, state, national Forest policies – local, state, national Forest taxation Forest taxation Forest health Forest health Forest management intensity Forest management intensity Endangered species Endangered species Landscape-scale resource management Landscape-scale resource management Biodiversity Biodiversity Water quality and quantity Water quality and quantity Ecosystem services Ecosystem services Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration Wildlife-urban interface Wildlife-urban interface Sustainability Sustainability 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 State and local elected and appointed officials who are responsible for planning Land developers Land developers Policy makers Policy makers Urban forest stakeholders Urban forest stakeholders Accountants Accountants Realtors 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 May the forest be with you! Forestry isn’t rocket science --- it’s much harder