How to Become a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Worker in Rhode Island

As a forest and conservation worker in Rhode Island you can expect to have a job that allows you to indulge your love of the outdoors. Forest workers are needed to help manage forests but also urban areas. In Rhode Island there are plenty of urban and suburban forests that require careful management.

Some of the duties of a forest and conservation worker include planting seedlings as a part of restoration efforts, identifying trees that are diseased and need to be removed or treated, applying treatments and keeping walkways and trails clear of brush in forested areas. Rhode Island is a small state, but there are opportunities for workers dedicated to protecting and managing natural areas.

How to Work in Forest and Conservation

The first thing you’ll need to begin a career in forest and conservation work is a high school diploma or a GED. You do not need to go on to complete a post-secondary program. Most employers will hire forest and conservation workers without degrees and train them on the job. You’ll work under and be trained by other forest workers, including technicians and foresters.

Forestry and Conservation Programs in and Around Rhode Island

You may choose to complete a post-secondary program related to forestry to kick start your career, even though it is not necessary. An academic program can make you a more desirable job candidate and allow for more career opportunities in the future. Rhode Island has very few related programs, but there are a couple options in state as well as in nearby Massachusetts:

• University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island. This four-year university offers a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and management. This is a broad degree that will touch on forestry and will take at least four years to complete. It’s a time and financial commitment, but this degree would open up a lot of doors to various career opportunities in natural resource management.
• Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, Massachusetts. Just in the next state are some shorter degree options in related fields. You can earn two-year associate degrees in plant and soil science or in environmental science and natural resources. Either degree can help you pursue a career in forestry and serve as a starting point for a four-year degree.

Job Outlook and Salaries for Forest and Conservation

There is currently no state-specific data for salaries and growth in forestry jobs for Rhode Island. However, nationwide data indicate that the average earnings for a forest and conservation worker are $27,460 per year and $13.20 per hour. Those who work for local governments earn more, an average of $32,670 per year. The outlook for this career is generally down across all states, but there are pockets of growth in certain areas and new positions available all the time as older workers leave their jobs.

Working in Forest and Conservation in Rhode Island

In general, forest and conservation workers are hired by the federal or state governments, which manage large areas of forest. But in a small, populous state like Rhode Island it is more typically governments that hire forest workers for managing and caring for urban trees. Regardless of where you land your first job, expect to work hard. This career requires you to be on your feet most of the day, wielding equipment, reaching into trees and removing branches and logs.