Online Degrees in Wildlife/Forestry Conservation

If you love the outdoors and want to work to help protect the forests and wildlife of our nation, you should look into obtaining a diploma in wildlife and forestry conservation. Wildlife and forestry conservationists work to help plant new forests and maintain and protect existing forests. They plant seedlings, help protect and fight insects and disease that kill forest trees, and help to control soil erosion in forest areas. Wildlife and forestry workers spend almost all their time outdoors. They may plant trees, cut away dead and dying parts of trees, improve trails and campsites, and assist with research projects when needed. Wildlife and forestry workers are mostly employed by the federal government on a seasonal basis. However, some work for tree farmers and nurseries. The work is often labor intensive and has a higher rate of injury then other jobs.

Wildlife and Forestry Conservation Educational and Training Requirements

Employers require wildlife and forestry conservations workers to have a high school diploma or their GED. They must be in good physical shape and able to work outside every day. Students often work at these labor intensive jobs, because they are often seasonal and offered during the warm summer months. Vocational and technical training schools are offering diploma and associate's degree (2 years of study) in this field. Coursework in these programs includes forest harvesting, wildlife management, and field trips to observe and participate in forestry conservation activities. Advancement opportunities in this field are generally given to those with bachelor's degree. They can sometimes become hired as full-time foresters.

Wildlife and Forester Conservation Workers Employment Outlook

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is expected to see job growth of nearly nine percent through 2018. This growth will stem from more lands being set aside to protect natural habitats and resources. Jobs may also be created in the field as the federal government has recently allocated more federal funds to help prevent forest and wild fires. This work will be done by forestry workers through forest thinning and controlled burns. Jobs will also be created by high turnover in this seasonal career field.

Wildlife and Forest Conservation Workers Wages

This is seasonal work and generally requires a lot of manual labor. In 2008, the Occupational Outlook Handbook found that wildlife and forestry workers had average hourly wages of around $10.98. The highest ten percent of workers made over $20.00 per hour. Inexperienced forestry workers, employed by the federal government, only made minimum wage in 2009. Local and state governments and private companies generally paid better wages then the federal agencies in this field.

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