Lumber manufacturers in the Southeast go back 5 generations of operators… and employ foresters to manage the needs of the land and forest. Those foresters employ best management practices, enabling a healthy forest for future generations. Not a bad deal.
What is a Forester?
A forester is the person who manages the health and the ecological productivity of a forest. They see the big picture but never forget the many smaller complex systems that together create the lush, beautiful, and healthy forest. The forester tends to the forest much like a gardener tends to his or her garden. The forester is first and foremost a good steward of nature; secondly he or she promotes the best long-term interest of humans.
This forester looks like a nice enough guy…right?
Protects the Forest
Essentially, foresters protect the forest from the actions and or inactions of people and nature. They do this by educating people, removing invasive weeds, burning overgrowth and constructing walls to prevent erosion. They promote conservation and biodiversity through protective actions that best serve the forest.
They protect native plants by removing invasive ones and remove dead plants to allow for more life in the forest. They work with local fire departments to conduct controlled burns. These controlled burns are fires that are started and closely supervised to remove excess biomass that could, if not removed, create a massive forest fire. These controlled burns remove much of the undergrowth, preventing a large scale forest fire.
A forester can also advise landowners when the right time is to remove or harvest their trees. They can also help the land owner plan the next seeding and harvest. A forester shares their expertise and knowledge with people who don’t have the proper educational background to fully understand the full outcome of their decisions – so in that respect a forester can act as a consultant on the behalf of Mother Nature.
Societies, Associations and Guilds
There are many forestry associations; most states have their own. Their purposes are very similar; generally speaking, they advise on governmental regulation in the timber industry, promote education, and promote good stewardship of the forests and the resources inside.
