50 Careers in Trees
A compendium
of information and inspiration assembled with love for present and
future stewards of our urban forests.
A breeze rustles through the leaves of newly planted saplings in a
small grove surrounded by broken pavement and concrete buildings once
littered with graffiti. In years to come, the trees will be a source of
shade and beauty where children can play and families can gather
beneath the green canopy deep within the inner city. The city
landscape, once bustling with the activities of progress, commerce and
convenient living, has taken a new course.
A definite greening in the concrete jungle is taking hold. Tree
planting projects, led by volunteers and dedicated professionals, are
successfully bringing nature to the city and reuniting urban dwellers
with the natural world around them. The urban forest is helping to cool
and clean the air, providing shade and beauty for residents, improving
property values and providing shelter for an array of
wildlife.
Unlike the wildland forest that stretches uninterrupted by human
activity for miles on end, the urban forest thrives around crowded
highways, business complexes and convenience stores from a single tree
planted in the corner of a parking lot to the thick woods of a city
park. The emerging trend toward the growth and care of urban forests is
opening new doors of opportunity to fulfilling careers for city
dwellers who love nature and want to play a role in preserving the
delicate environment.
As more and more people are drawn into the urban environment, the need
to reconnect with nature is becoming more acute and activities
surrounding the urban forest are likely to expand. Positions within
urban forestry encompass a broad spectrum offering opportunities for
people of all interests, backgrounds, education and experience levels.
The vast network of professions includes tree trimmers, secretaries,
nursery managers, retailers and scientists.
Urban Forestry, as defined by the Society of American Foresters, has at
its root the function of contributing to the "physiological,
sociological and economic well-being of urban society." Tree planting
and tending nurtures not only the urban environment but the human
spirit, and today, urban forestry is being used to help heal many
social wounds including racial conflict, juvenile crime and urban
blight.
Those embarking on new careers in the diverse fields of urban forestry
may be assured that their work can help sustain and improve not only
themselves, but the environment and communities we live
in.
50 Careers in Trees:
Accountant • Appraiser • Arborist • Botanical Farmer • Broker • Christmas Tree Farmer • Community Educator • Community Project Manager • Cooperative Extension Specialist • Ecologist • Elementary School Teacher • Executive Director • Forest Pathologist • Forester • Fund Raiser or Resource Developer • GIS Professional • Grant Administrator • Grant Writer • Groundskeeper • High School Teacher • Landscape Architect • Landscape Contractor • Landscape Designer or Garden Consultant • Lawyer • Legislator • Lumber Harvester • Lumber Miller • Nature Photographer • Nursery Owner or Manager • Park Planner • Park Supervisor • Professor • Researcher • Salesperson • Silverculturist • Social Forester • Soil Scientist • Special Forest Products Entrepreneur • Transportation Engineer • Tree Inventory Technician • Tree Rentals • Tree Service • Tree Technician • Urban Forester • Urban Planner • Utility Arborist or Forester • Volunteer • Wildland Fire Manager • Wildland Restoration • Writer
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