How to Become a Forest and Wildlife Conservation Worker in West Virginia

To become a forest and conservation worker in West Virginia all you really need is a passion for the outdoors and a willingness to work hard. While the requirements for being hired in this career may vary by employer, in general you don’t need any formal education to begin working in forestry.

A forest and conservation worker is a job that allows you to be outdoors most of the time, walking through and caring for woodlands. As a worker in this field, some of the duties you may be responsible for include:

• Planting tree seedlings
• Identifying and possibly removing diseased trees
• Measuring and counting trees for surveys
• Using pesticides or fungicides to treat trees
• Clearing debris and brush from hiking trails
• Preventing or fighting forest fires

This is a rewarding and yet challenging career. It requires that you have good physical strength and be able to be on your feet most days.

How to Be a Forest and Conservation Worker in West Virginia

There are no strict requirements for education and training for this level of career in forestry. As a forest and conservation worker, you should have a high school diploma or GED. Once you land a job you will be trained. You will work under the training and supervision of a forest technician, a forester or both types of forestry professionals.

Forestry and Conservation Programs in West Virginia

A high school education is all that is required by most employers to start working in this field, but you may want to give yourself an advantage in hiring by getting some degree of post-secondary education. There are a couple of options for forestry education in West Virginia:

• West Virginia University, Potomac State College, Keyser. This division of WVU offers several two-year degree programs, including a couple of options that could help you prepare for a career in forest and conservation work. The associate’s degree in wood science and technology includes 60 credits of courses in forestry. The associate’s degree program in horticulture will give you a broader education in plants and ecology.
• West Virginia University, Morgantown. The main campus of WVU offers several majors for four-year degrees related to forestry and natural resources management. You can major in forest resource science, forest resource management or forestry. A two-year degree from Potomac can transfer here if you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Job Outlook and Salaries in Forest and Conservation Work

The outlook for careers in forest and conservation is flat across most of the U.S. There are still opportunities for jobs, though, as people move out of positions year after year. With the right education, you should be able to find a job in West Virginia. The state employs more forest workers than most others.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for forest and conservation workers in the U.S. is $27,460 per year. In West Virginia, that salary is a little lower at $25,380. To earn a greater salary you can train for more specialized skills, like forest firefighting, or work toward becoming a forest technician.

Forest and Conservation Work in West Virginia

Many forest workers are employed by the state to manage state lands for sustainable lumber use and recreation. You may also find a job with local governments, helping to manage urban landscapes and parks. Private employers of forest and conservation workers include owners of orchards and tree farms as well as lumber companies.