Explore the Natural World

• Foresters
• Forest technicians
• Rangers for the Maine Forest Service
• Forest operations
• Rangers for federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S.D.A. Forest Service
• GIS specialists

Foresters are responsible for the conservation of working forests. This means monitoring the health and directing the growth of forest stands where timber is harvested while following laws, best management practices, and scientific research to build and conserve habitats for fish and wildlife. Foresters understand history and write the future. Daily tasks vary according to the size and goals of the landowner or agency. A forester may provide comprehensive services to many small landowners or specialize in a particular aspect of forestry within a larger company or agency.

Two options for baccalaureate degrees are available to AFM students who wish to earn a four-year degree at UMFK that builds on the Forestry curriculum. The Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree is designed for students who wish to own a business, while the Conservation Law Enforcement with Natural Resources concentration is designed for students who wish to enter public service. Either of these degrees can be finished in four years.

Forest rangers are in the business of forest protection.  Their job involves the detection, prevention, and suppression of forest fires and the monitoring of potentially damaging native and invasive insect populations.  Additionally, the job involves a great deal of public education. In some states, forest rangers are involved in prescribed burning. This is a forest management tool used in forest regeneration, to reduce fuels and fire potential, and to enhance wildlife habitat.

In Maine, forest rangers have the added duty of enforcing forestry and environmental law. A Maine forest ranger’s work includes preparing and updating fire action plans, training firefighters, and supervising suppression operations. They patrol assigned regions and conduct equipment inspections. They also report and prosecute violations, investigate suspicious fires and suspected criminal activities, and conduct public information and education programs. Their enforcement duties also involve preparing records and reports that are used by the Maine Attorney General.