How to Become a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Worker in Alabama

If you enjoy working outdoors and are interested in improving the quality of the forest spaces in your state, then you may want to consider becoming a forest and conservation worker. Forest and conservation workers do their jobs under the direction of foresters, or forest and conservation technicians. Some of your duties may include planting seedlings, cutting down decaying trees or plants, preventing weed growth and spraying for insects. Forest workers with a background in fire safety may help put out forest fires.

Alabama is an excellent state to pursue a career in forestry. It has a humid, subtropical climate and is home to many species of plants and vegetation because of the variety of habitats that can be found throughout the state. However, most forests in Alabama are pine forests.

Alabama Requirements to Become a Forest and Conservation Worker

There are no specific guidelines to work as a forest and conservation worker in Alabama. You should at least have a high school diploma or its equivalent as well as a valid driver’s license. Formal training is not required for entry-level work as a forest and conversation worker, because they usually receive their training on the job. If you are interested in a post-secondary degree in forestry and conservation, you may want to enroll in a two- or four-year degree program depending on how far you would like to go in the forestry field.

Certification or licensing is not required in Alabama. However, you must be able to handle the physical challenges of the job and use heavy equipment. Other abilities necessary to work in this field include communication, decision-making and good listening skills.

Educational Programs in Alabama

Although it is not required to hold a degree or to have had post-secondary education to work in this field, having some educational background in forestry could help you do better on the job or have a better shot at getting hired. For this, you would only need a certificate or two-year degree in forestry or a similar field.

If you are interested in furthering in your career and becoming a forest and conservation technician or forester, then you should look for a school that offers an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related major. Here are some programs in the state that may interest you:

• Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBWCC). LBWCC offers a two-year program in forest technology. This program develops the practical field skills needed to work in forestry. Students get to assist with controlled burning, running landlines and developing forest management plans. The curriculum covers practices that are taught both in the Southeast and throughout the United States. Coursework includes Timber Harvesting, Forestry Mathematics, Forest Pathology, Forest Fire Control and Forest Research and Management.
• Alabama A&M University. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, A & M offers a Bachelor of Science degree program in forestry. This program prepares students for professional careers in the field of forestry. Students will work closely with the US Forest Service and spend time both in and outside the classroom. This four-year program is nationally accredited. Over 90 percent of students who graduate from this program find jobs within the forestry field.
• Auburn University. Auburn also offers a four-year bachelor’s degree program in forestry. Students will participate in a summer practicum between their sophomore and junior years at the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center. They will pick an emphasis in their senior year, including options like forest biology, urban forestry and wildlife management. This program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters(SAF).

Job Growth and Salary Expectations

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average hourly salary for this career in the U.S. is $13.20, and the average annual salary is $27,460. In Alabama, the hourly average for forestry and conservation workers is $21.10, and the yearly average is $43,970. The highest earners in the state can make up to $59,550 a year.

Overall, the job field for forest and conservation workers is declining, but the area for forest and conservation technicians is increasing. So, this is excellent news if you are planning on going further in the field. In the state of Alabama, the job field is predicted to remain even, with no increase or decrease expected in the period between 2016 and 2026. There are approximately 30 average openings in this job field per year in the state.

Working as a Forest and Conservation Worker in Alabama

There is plenty of forest area in Alabama, so finding work in this field in the state should not be difficult.

Getting a job with the federal or state government would be your best bet. Other places to work as a forest and conservation worker in the state include campgrounds, tree farms and orchards and forest nurseries. Universities that have forestry programs or departments are also good places to consider work. Consider the cities of Andalusia, Auburn, Mobile or Tuscaloosa when looking for a job in the state.