Forest And Conservation Workers

Forest and Conservation Workers

Description

Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, and tree planters.

Tasks

Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
Confer with other workers to discuss issues such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.
Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.
Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers.
Erect signs or fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.
Prune or shear tree tops or limbs to control growth, increase density, or improve shape.
Select tree seedlings, prepare the ground, or plant the trees in reforestation areas, using manual planting tools.
Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, or setting stakes.
Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.
Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
Examine and grade trees according to standard charts and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs.
Sort and separate tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts and verbal instructions.
Maintain campsites or recreational areas, replenishing firewood or other supplies and cleaning kitchens or restrooms.
Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.

Knowledge

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.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Biology: Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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.
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.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Skills

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Work Context

Face-to-Face Discussions: How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Consequence of Error: How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate: How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results: How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company?
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled: How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
Frequency of Decision Making: How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety: How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Deal With External Customers: How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
Coordinate or Lead Others: How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?

Interests

Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Work Style

Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Leadership: Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Self Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Independence: Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Analytical Thinking: Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Work Values

Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Related Occupations

Agricultural Technicians

Nonfarm Animal Caretakers

Animal Breeders

Nursery Workers

Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

Lay Titles

Blister Rust Eradicator

Box Chipper

Box Cutter

Box Puller

Boxer

Brusher

Chemical Sprayer

Chopper

Christmas Tree Farm Manager

Christmas Tree Farm Worker

Christmas Tree Farmer

Christmas Tree Grader

Christmas Tree Grower

Cone Picker

Conservation Officer

Conservation Specialist

Conservation Worker

Cupper

Dipper

Farm Hand

Farm Laborer

Farmer

Fern Cutter

Fern Gatherer

Fern Picker

Field Laborer

Forest Aide

Forest Products Gatherer

Forest Ranger

Forest Technician

Forest Worker

Forester

Forester Aide

Forestry Farm Laborer

Forestry Support Specialist

Forestry Technician

Gatherer

Geographic Information Systems Coordinator (GIS Coordinator)

Greens Picker

Greens Tier

Ground Crewman

Gum Dipper

Hacker

Moss Picker

Nursery Worker

Nut Picker

Palm Gatherer

Pitch Gatherer

Production Technician

Raker

Range Aide

Reforestation Worker

Sap Gatherer

Scrape Gatherer

Seasonal Greenery Bundler

Seedling Puller

Seedling Sorter

Spanish Moss Picker

Tar Heel

Timber Deadener

Timber Killer

Timber Poisoner

Tree Chipper

Tree Climber

Tree Deadener

Tree Farm Manager

Tree Farmer

Tree Killer

Tree Planter

Tree Sapper

Tree Scout

Tree Tapping Laborer

Tree Trimmer

Tree Wrapper

Turpentiner

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $11.7 hourly, $24,340 annual.

Employment (2008):: 7,910 employees