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Forest and Conservation Workers - 45-4011.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, and tree planters.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Christmas Tree Grower
  • Tree Planter
  • Field Laborer
  • Forestry Support Specialist
  • Conservation Officer
  • Geographic Information Systems Coordinator (GIS Coordinator)
  • Reforestation Worker

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
  • Confer with other workers to discuss issues such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
  • Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
  • Erect signs or fences, using posthole diggers, shovels, or other hand tools.
  • Examine and grade trees according to standard charts and staple color-coded grade tags to limbs.
  • Explain or enforce regulations regarding camping, vehicle use, fires, use of buildings, or sanitation.
  • Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
  • Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers.
  • Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
  • Maintain campsites or recreational areas, replenishing firewood or other supplies and cleaning kitchens or restrooms.
  • Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
  • Operate skidders, bulldozers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.
  • Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
  • Provide assistance to forest survey crews by clearing site-lines, holding measuring tools, or setting stakes.
  • Prune or shear tree tops or limbs to control growth, increase density, or improve shape.
  • Select or cut trees according to markings or sizes, types, or grades.
  • Select tree seedlings, prepare the ground, or plant the trees in reforestation areas, using manual planting tools.
  • Sort and separate tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts and verbal instructions.
  • Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
  • Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
  • Thin or space trees, using power thinning saws.

Detailed Work Activities

  • clean rooms or work areas
  • grade, classify, or sort products according to specifications
  • identify crop characteristics
  • identify diseased, weak or undesirable trees
  • interpret aerial photographs
  • load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
  • move or fit heavy objects
  • package goods for shipment or storage
  • plant, cultivate, or harvest crops, including aquaculture
  • read maps
  • read measuring or metering devices used in forestry
  • recognize plant diseases
  • recognize tree or forest plant species
  • recognize wood species characteristics
  • understand second language
  • use chain saws
  • use fire suppression equipment
  • use fire suppression techniques
  • use hand or power tools
  • use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
  • use plant disease control techniques
  • use portable hand spray equipment

Military Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Christmas-Tree Farm Worker
  • Christmas-Tree Grader
  • Forest Worker
  • Forest-Products Gatherer
  • Laborer, Tree Tapping
  • Seedling Puller
  • Seedling Sorter
  • Tree Planter