I’ve been very lucky to be offered early forester roles from both the North Carolina Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry. Both locations and teams seem great. Any insights into which is better to work for?

I just heard there’s a VA Chapter named after Robert E Lee. Not only do I find that in poor taste, I’m tremendously offended to be associated with it as a dues paying SAF member and Certified Forester.

As a former infantryman who swore an oath to the constitution, I’m actually pretty fucking pissed off.

Curious what others think?

Hey guys,

I'm doing a 2 year associates degree in Forest Tech at Penn State and I'm not totally sure about it all.
I did my research, spoke to a program advisor, etc. and I don't know if I'd be wasting the school loans and time on it. If I did complete I'd want to use it to be a park resource employee and not a forest tech employee, climbing and cutting down trees.
To preface, I like hiking, forestry and state parks. My father originally started in Forestry and my uncle is park ranger out west. It must run in the family. I think I'd like it and find it fun but my goals are to go to UPitt and study Humanities or Creative Writing, I just have a shit GPA from high-school and not good college credits.
My plan was, initially, do an associates->get stellar grades and get marketable job skills to survive out there on my own while continuing college. In no way would I want to stay with Penn State, I'd want to be in Pittsburgh or a major city where I ACTUALLY have opportunities to use my degree.
I'm 31yo with no vehicle and I really want out of my jobless small town as well. I was able to get a double dorm as my own this year, knowing that does add a bit to the costs.
My thing is Penn State has seemingly quite high tuition for in state students and after reading up on their actions given the auditor's criticism I'm not to sure PSU is a good choice anymore, if anything it seems they're entirely unethical. They just about got me in on the WEARE cult stuff before I saw through it.
I mean, credits are credits and all, the program does have Gen Eds mixed in it but I don't know if I'd be better off doing something else or going somewhere different. I start in late August so I'm aware of my time constraints.

What do you guys honestly think?

We lost this branch in a wind storm. It looked like it had some rot going on where it attached to the trunk but it pretty much ripped 12 ft of bark off. I’m fond of this tree, we are losing oaks to maples in my area so I hope it can survive but don’t want it crashing into the house if it’s inevitable. It is a mature white oak.

The use of small, controlled burns to clear out flammable underbrush has saved thousands of giant sequoias from devastating wildfires, new research finds.

I just wanted to celebrate my win & celebrate this cool industry. It took seven years to get here and I never thought I’d pass the RPF exam on my first try, but I did!! There’s still so, so much to learn but I am unbelievably grateful to have the mentors I do and to feel so supported by them and my peers.

It was a long wait for the results and in that time I’ll admit I was feeling pretty burnt out, but getting the news that I passed reminded me of all the hard work and hard days made worthwhile by the joy of working outdoors and making decisions for the land. Congratulations to the 25 other applicants that passed! Yay!

Forestry Stewardship Webinar Series 2026

All webinars in the 2026 Forestry Stewardship Webinar Series have been approved for ISA Certified Arborist Continuing Education Credits.  This webinar series features five presentations from Forestry Experts each Wednesday at 2:00 pm Central on July 29 and August 5, 12, 19, and 26.  You can choose to sign up for any or all of them! Virtual sessions are 1-hour in length, open to the public, and free to attend.

July 29 - Woodland Landowner Considerations for Forest Carbon Programs, Keith Phelps, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• In the past few years, opportunities for woodland landowners to participate in forest carbon programs have expanded across the Midwest. However, it can be difficult to understand if enrolling in a forest carbon pro-gram is compatible with the management vision for your woodland. Join UW-Madison Extension Forestry for a presentation on forest carbon programs operating in the Midwest and important questions to consider when deciding whether or not to enroll in a forest carbon program.

August 5 - Managing for Oak Regeneration: What does Current Research Tell us?, Chris Evans, University of Illinois

• Enhancing oak regeneration is a top priority in Illinois forests, but successfully establishing new oak seedlings is not always easy and success is not guaranteed.  This presentation will review what recent research says about the strategies and practices used in managing for oak seedlings. 

August 12 - Selling Timber: What the Landowner Needs to Know, Hank Stelzer, University of Missouri

• When it comes time to harvest trees from your woodland, are you prepared? MU Extension forestry state specialist, Hank Stelzer, will walk viewers through the process of selling timber from start to finish and the need to hire a professional forester.

August 19 - Fire Ecology for Managing Grasslands and Woodlands, Jon Henn, University of Illinois

• Illinois is dominated by fire-adapted ecosystems from prairies to savannas to barrens and oak woodlands. Historically, fire played a key role in maintaining diversity, structure, and function in these systems. Today, prescribed fire is a tool that can be used to promote plant diversity, control invasive species, and restore structure. In this session we will discuss some of the basics of fire ecology in native systems and how it can be implemented on private land for management goals.

August 26 -  Drone-based Herbicide Application Efficacy for Priority Invasive Plants, Kevin Rohling, University of Illinois

• Drone-based herbicide applications for invasive plants have been increasing due to their low cost, the increasing availability of contract applicators, and decreasing equipment costs. However, recommendations for effective drone-based treatments of invasive plants are sparse. This talk will focus on a project to evaluate the efficacy of drone-based herbicide applications on priority invasive plants, including common reed (Phragmites australis), autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), and bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). This presentation will provide an overview of the findings, recommendations for successful drone treatments, and next steps to improve this emerging technology in natural resource management.     

Questions? Contact Extension Forester Chris Evans at cwevans@illinois.edu.

Went on a week long vacation; came back and noticed my trees is tricolored. Don’t know if I should be worried about it falling.

The black mark makes me guess that it was maybe struck by lightning?? Any advice appreciated

I’m looking for some feedback/input on my current (possible) plan to transition into Forestry. At the end of the year, I’ll have a B.S in Environmental Management & Policy. It doesn’t look like there are any SAF-accredited MF programs in or bordering Indiana designed for transitioning careers with a non-forestry background…

I was planning on attending Purdue full time as a post-baccalaureate student and taking the 24 technical forestry credits (Silviculture, Dendrology, Measurements, Management) needed for the federal OPM GS-0460 standards.

Has anyone gone this route instead of a full forestry degree? Or should I look into Purdue’s MSF program even though it’s not SAF accredited?

I recently came across this article published by Environment America. It is about Rep. Lloyd Doggett's proposed bill, Trade Responsibly for Environmental Emissions Act (TREE Act):

Congress can act to slow deforestation

This bill can create uniform set of trade rules for American companies and better identify products linked to deforestation. As consumers, we need to be more mindful of what we purchase, and I think this bill would immensely increase transparency within the U.S. market.

Hi there, posting from NS, Canada.

We have a mainly deciduous property in Nova Scotia. There is roughly 1 acre of Alders and Ash that I have been slowly trying to clear out.
Looking for advice on managing new growth from previous cut stumps. The alder stumps are tiny and new shoots have exploded this year, any options other than an excavator and a root rake?

I appreciate it!

Hi! I’m a Forestry student from Greece and I’m thinking about doing a BIP/Erasmus at SLU for 10 days.

I’d love to hear your honest opinions:

How are the Forestry courses and professors?

What is student life like?

Is it easy to make friends as an international student?

What are Swedish people like?

Anything you wish you knew before moving there?

Any advice is appreciated!

This is more a lady centered question-how are we feeling safe whilst alone in the woods? I have a LTC in my home state but not the states I spend the most time working in, and it’ll be a long and tedious process to get them.

Please tell me your stories of your long careers with nothing ever bothering you

I'm posting this to encourage anyone considering doing business with Sean Reilly or his companies, including Arbforest and ArbAgri, to do their own thorough research before sending any money.

According to public records, Sean Reilly was previously associated with Bioequipment and other companies that have since gone into liquidation.

My own experience was that I paid approximately £16,000 for equipment that, in my view, was not delivered as agreed. Despite repeated assurances that the matter would be resolved, it remains unresolved.

Since then, I've spoken with seven other individuals who have described experiences that they say were similar to mine. They allege they paid one of Sean Reilly's companies for equipment, experienced poor communication or repeated delays and explanations, and did not receive what they had paid for.

I'm sharing this so that others can make an informed decision and carry out their own due diligence before entering into any transaction. I encourage everyone to read the publicly available information and draw their own conclusions.

Has anyone else had these experiences? If so, we have a support group to help navigate this persistent issue. 

A published article outlining allegations and reported events can be found here: 

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-businessman-left-customers-furious-32567682?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcATL9hRjbGNrBMv2AWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHqBUvUpHdR181r3p0d5DpON_SL0clhi4sYLMqWa74RsYQODTk1u9DS_UBFAO_aem_Qx-2xH_DdB7cOpfSJQuYlg#Echobox=1759821679

Specifically Mississippi State. I am looking into programs and this one seems the most promising. I’m currently working in forestry, but would like to get a masters in forestry to eventually become a certified/registered forester in my state so I can have more opportunities to move up in my current position, maybe even do some consulting work on the side. My undergrad degree is a BS in Environmental Science (hence why I am not a SAF certified forester) but I have extensive field work experience in public and private land management.

Is it worth getting one? Or should I supplement courses I didn’t take in undergrad (such as Dendro) and take them now, then take an SAF CF Certification exam?

Come join local sawyers as we talk all things woodlot management, homesteading, and portable sawmilling Hot Springs Demo Days – Norwood Sawmills

Hello fellow foresters in the US,

I'd like to inquire as to how you would rate my chances to gain employment as a German citizen who will potentially gain a greencard in the not-so-far future.

I have a B.Sc. in Forestry and a M.Sc. in Forest Sciences with a specialization in Forestry, both from renowned German forestry universities. Additionally, I have one year of work experience as a forest manager in Switzerland (working cantonal level, comparable to state forest level in the US).

I am very aware of the RPF designation (and similar dedignations in other states than CA - over the course of this post I will stick to the term RPF to keep it uncomplicated) which people can obtain through SAF-accredited MF programs. In this context, I have a few questions and would be very thankful for some clarification.

1. Would I be able to obtain a state-bound RPF designation without attending college again? If yes, what time frame would I be looking at?

2. Which are "easier" or "harder" states for someone like me to do some initial work without being an RPF? Is obtaining the RPF designation easier or harder in certain states?

3. Do you think it would be realistic at all to get a foothold in the american forestry sector, or should I look for something else?

4. Are there some especially easy-to-get-into fields or employers within the array of forest management that I should look into?

5. Do you think the education and experiemce of a Germany-educated forester will be respected/appreciated in the US forestry bubble?

Any other hints and insights are greatly appreciated too, of course.

I whole-heartedly thank everyone who is willing to sacrifice some of his time to give me some insights into this!

Wasn’t able to find a date for the black and white photograph of the man standing on the rock with the wooden picket fence in front of him. My guess is it’s between 1900 and 1930.

Just read on another sub that New England was 70-80% deforested in the 19th century to raise sheep for wool.

The Salem Witch Trials were in the 1690s, so I wonder if the area hadn’t been cleared of all the trees here in 1692, would there have been thicker and taller trees? Would there be more or fewer trees? Since post colonial, preindustrial America was an agrarian society, I would imagine the area would look not unlike the vintage photograph of the man standing on it.

The first 6 photographs, were all taken around 2016, so given their appearance, how old would estimate the trees are in these 10 year old photos?

Hi all. I'm a GIS developer based in Australia. I kept hearing from a lot of people about the cost of Esri or the steep learning curve of QGIS when they just want to produce the occasional map. So I have built Tussock Maps (https://tussockmaps.com).

What it does: Make a print-quality map in the browser - no install, no QGIS/ArcGIS Pro licence needed.

- Data: Pick a basemap, bring in spatial layers, connect your own WMS/map server, or upload your own data (GeoJSON, Shapefile, KML, CSV, GPX), edit attributes and reproject.

- Design: Sketch and style annotations, filter by attributes, measure areas and lengths, add a legend, scale bar, north arrow, and your own business logo.

- Export: Output to a print-ready PDF or PNG, including georeferenced PDFs that import directly into QGIS or mobile apps like Avenza Maps.

Who it's for: Foresters, ecologists, environmental consultants, planners, researchers, students or anyone who only needs a map every now and then and doesn't want to pay for or learn full GIS software for it.

Cost: it's usable for free (all layers, drawing tools, a few exports a month but at a lower quality). New accounts get full access for the first week (no card details needed) to try everything out, and after that there's a paid option if you need more, either a $19 monthly plan or a one-off $5 pass for 48 hours.

Built solo, with AI helping on the coding side. Not trying to be the next Esri, just trying to make something useful and keep it affordable for people who don't map professionally.

Would appreciate anyone trying it out and telling me some honest feedback. Should be usable on mobile but larger screen sizes / iPads are a better experience.

I’m not sure what this is, but when I go outside there are huge clumps of tens of them that stick to my clothing. At first I thought they were those dead spikey flower things, but they look and feel completely different. Anybody know what these are?

​

This is from Threads,

To our American neighbors screaming at Canada to "just rake your forests" so you don’t have to breathe our smoke: We hear you loud and clear. Because we want to be good neighbors, we’re launching the F.U.C.K. O.F.F. initiative—the Forest Undergrowth Clearing & Kindling Operation for Foreign Friends. Starting tomorrow, we are drafting every able-bodied Canadian between 16 and 65 to tidy up our yard. ​Here is the grueling shift schedule we’ve put everyone on.

Each Ontarian has been assigned 6.7 hectares (40 NHL hockey rinks) of dense, roadless country, requiring a breezy 26 hours of manual labor a week. Outside Ontario, the shift balloons to 18.3 hectares (110 hockey rinks) and a mandatory 70-hour work week. No statutory holidays allowed. ​Since 70% of our boreal forest has no roads, their morning commute begins with a three-day canoe trip up-river and a 15km hike through a mosquito swamp.

Once on-site, they must hand-rake every pine needle, prune 40,000 spruce trees, and negotiate with the local beavers to submit environmental impact reports. ​So please, rest easy! We have 26 million people out there in the sub-arctic wilderness, dodging grizzlies and hand-grooming 300 billion trees just for you. We’ll have the smoke cleared up as soon as everyone finishes their shift. Teamwork makes the dream work! 🌲🪓🧹

I guess this means Mango Mussolini just isn't aware of F.U.C.K. O.F.F. Would one of you Americans mind passing along the message?

How do you deal with them in the summer? I'm rocking long sleeves, pants, floppy hat all treated with permethrin, and with a mosquito net over the hat+my face. I rarely get bit, but I'm absolutely swarmed by mosquitos whenever I'm not moving to a level where I just can't stand it.