How to Become a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Worker in Connecticut

If you live in Connecticut and have a passion for the outdoors, consider a career as a forest and conservation worker. In this role, you’ll work under the direction of a forester or a forest and conservation technician, and you’ll help do whatever is needed to develop, maintain or protect woodlands. Other titles for this role include Forest Resource Specialist, Crew Leader, Forestry Support Specialist, Field Laborer or Conservation Officer.

This line of work has many possible duties related to improving the quality of forests. You may be involved in protecting trees from insects and disease as well as helping to prevent and suppress forest fires. You may clear debris from camping areas and trails. You may remove diseased trees and plant new ones.

Working as a forest and conservation worker involves many physical tasks. When you choose this career, you may work for state or federal governments or in forests, tree farms or orchards.

Requirements for Becoming a Forest and Conservation Worker in Connecticut

A high school diploma or GED is the first thing that’s required to enter the forest and conservation field. You may be able to obtain on-the-job training to become a forest or conservation worker. A valid driver’s license is usually also required.

While formal schooling isn’t always needed, if you pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in forestry, it may help you to stand out among competing candidates, especially if you want to eventually pursue more advanced opportunities, such as becoming a forest and conservation technician.

Forestry Training Programs in Connecticut

Formal training programs in forestry or natural resources management can teach you valuable information such as conservation techniques, timber harvesting or wildlife management. Schools in Connecticut that offer forestry training programs include:

• Northwestern Connecticut Community College. An associate’s degree program in Natural Resources is offered at this community college located in Winsted, Connecticut. This program introduces students to topics such as resource management, environmental risk and nature conservancy. Other topics covered include sustainability, soil science, wildlife management, conservation ecology and environmental biology.
• University of Connecticut. Located in Storrs, Connecticut, this university offers a degree program in Natural Resources and the Environment. Students have the opportunity to focus on specialized areas including environmental sustainability and conservation, sustainable forest resources, water resources and climate or fisheries and wildlife conservation.

Expected Salary and Job Outlook for Forest and Conservation Workers in Connecticut

The state of Connecticut reports that almost 60 percent of the land area of this state is forested. While there aren’t typically a large number of jobs in the forest and conservation field in this state, there are some well-paying opportunities in this field. Nationally the demand for forest and conservation workers may decrease slightly between 2016 and 2026.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary for workers in the forest and conservation field in 2018 was $27,460. With additional experience and training, you can become a forest and conservation technician. In Connecticut in 2018, the median annual salary or forest and conservation technicians was $47,150. The hourly mean was $22.67 per hour.

A Career as a Forest and Conservation Worker in Connecticut

Forest and conservations workers work outdoors rain or shine, which may be appealing to you if you love being outdoors. If you pursue a career in this field, your duties are sometimes physically demanding and may require a lot of walking through densely wooded areas as well as carrying heavy tools or equipment. You may work in remote locations, and at times the work may be dangerous.

There are wooded areas in many different parts of Connecticut. If you’re passionate about keeping wooded areas naturally beautiful, healthy and safe, a career as a forest conservation worker may be right for you.