How to Become a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Worker in Utah

Forest and conservation workers perform tasks to help sustain, protect and improve forests and other natural environments. They work under the direction of foresters, forest technicians and conservation scientists. Some of the tasks undertaken by these workers include planting trees in reforestation efforts, collecting data for forest quality and preventing forest fires. They may also cut down diseased or damaged trees, spray insecticides and fungicides, and clear away debris from high-traffic areas.

Forest and conservation workers may work in natural forest areas or urban forestry settings, managing the growth and placement of trees and wildlife in city settings. Some workers spend their time at tree nurseries, while others work at orchards to ensure the quality and production of fruit trees.

To be a forest and conservation worker, you’ll need to be willing to work outdoors, sometimes in harsh weather conditions. It’s important to be able to spend long hours on your feet, walk long distances and lift heavy objects.

How Do You Become A Forest and Conservation Worker?

Before finding your first forest and conservation job, you’ll need to graduate high school or earn your GED. Then, you can begin searching for employment at state parks, local government agencies or forestry organizations. Most entry-level jobs will offer on-the-job training to new forest and conservation workers. When you decide it’s time to advance in your career, you can enroll in a college forestry, conservation or natural resources program.

Educational Options in Utah

Forestry, conservation and natural resource college programs vary in length, depending on your career goals. Here are two educational options for advancing your career in Utah:

• Snow College. At this Ephraim, Utah, school, you can earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS)or Associate of Science (AS) degree in Natural Resources. These programs prepare students to enter the workforce with minimal on-the-job training. Snow College gets students involved with fieldwork through internships with the Forest Service, state agencies and industrial organizations. You can also choose to study in the Wildlands Fish and Wildlife program or Forest Sciences and Biology program.
• Utah State University. This school in Logan offers a four-year Forest Ecology and Management degree. The program is nationally accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). Students gain skills to manage public or private forests. Graduates of the program may become foresters, managers of urban forestry or work for private landowners. New Utah State freshmen in good academic standing may apply for the program, and transfer students must have a GPA of at least 2.5 on previously completed work.

Forest and Conservation Workers vs. Technicians

There aren’t many forest and conservation workers in Utah, according to the Projections Managing Partnership(PMP), which reported that just 40 of these workers were employed within the state in 2016. By comparison, there were 1,110 forest and conservation technicians employed in Utah that year, suggesting that completing a two-year technician program is probably a smart career move.

The number of forest workers is not projected to increase or decrease in Utah, while technicians are projected to increase 6.3 percent by 2026.

Forest and conservation workers across the country earned a median wage of $13.20 per hour in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Forest and conservation technicians, who are paid higher than workers, earned a median income of $14.35 in Utah that same year.

Where to Work in Utah

Since statistics for Utah forest and conservation workers are scarce, you can look at those of forest technicians to get an idea of the best places to work in the forestry industry. In 2018, most technicians worked in the central and eastern Utah nonmetropolitan areas. These two areas also had extremely high employment rates for technicians per 1,000 jobs.

If you live in Utah and enjoy spending time outdoors, beginning a career as a forest and conservation worker could be the perfect way to get started in the forestry and conservation field. With experience and education, you can work your way up in this field and enjoy a long, rewarding career.