Forestry as a Career
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Forestry Education
Is Forestry For You?
- Do you enjoy working outdoors?
- Are you interested in forests or forest management?
- Do you want a career in an exciting, dynamic field?
If you answered yes to the questions above, a career in natural resource management may be for you. There are several colleges and universities in the Southeastern U.S., around the country, and around the world that offer curriculums in forestry and related fields.
In particular, the School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC), at the University of Florida, offers outstanding professional education in the area of renewable natural resources. Through its majors in Forest Resources and Conservation (FRC) and Natural Resource Conservation (NRC), students may earn the Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation as awarded by the University of Florida's College of Agriculture, the degree-granting unit within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).
Instruction is provided by a faculty of regionally, nationally and internationally recognized scholars/teachers that are dedicated to instructional excellence, student learning and professional development. The SFRC is accredited by the Society of American Foresters, a distinction it has held since 1942.
Graduates qualify for membership in nationally recognized professional organizations such as the Society of American Foresters, and qualify for listing on several federal civil service employment registers. Graduates find meaningful professional careers in public and private organizations responsible for the use and management of natural resources.
Check out the The School of Forest Resources and Conservation Web site for more information.
World Wide Web Virtual Forestry Library
The World Wide Web Virtual Forestry Library contains a directory of forestry educational institutions around the world. There, you will find links to countless colleges, universities, extension sites, and information pages.
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The Cradle of Forestry
Forestry in America dates back to the Biltmore Estate and the reforestation of abused and farmed-over land. Forestry education began in 1889 when George W. Vanderbilt began to purchase land in Asheville, North Carolina as a site for his Biltmore House. Vanderbilt hired a man by the name of Gifford Pinchot to restore the forest.
In 1895, German forester Dr. Carl A. Schenck accepted George Vanderbilt's offer to come to North Carolina to succeed Gifford Pinchot as manager of his vast forest properties. For the next 14 years, Dr. Schenck focused all of his forestry skills on transforming these woodlands that we know today as Pisgah National Forest. In 1898, Dr. Schenck founded the Biltmore Forest School, the first forestry school in America.
Visit the Cradle of Forestry Web site for more information.
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Society of American Foresters
If you are a forester or a forestry student, and you are not currently a member of the Society of American Foresters (SAF), here is some information about the organization and some of the benefits associated with membership.
The mission of the SAF is to advance the science, education, technology, and practice of forestry. SAF strives to enhance the competency of its members and establish standards of professional excellence. SAF believes in the use of our knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the future availability of forest resources to benefit society.
As a member of SAF you will receive the Journal of Forestry, The Forestry Source, and your regional magazine (The Southeastern Forester in the Southeastern U.S.). These will keep you updated on new scientific information, national issues, local issues, and all the upcoming meetings and conventions.
See our Directory for SAF contact information.