What is a Consulting Forester (aka Forestry or Timber Consultant)?

A consulting forester is an independent forester that is employed by a landowner and works strictly for that client to carryout forestry or timber related services. Many consulting foresters, like myself, also use the term forestry consultant or timber consultant to describe what we do.

Some foresters or forestry consultants or timber consultants are not employed by a landowner and are instead employed by a timber buying entity. Such individuals are more properly called industrial foresters and may not represent the best interests of a landowner due to an obvious conflict of interest between what the landowner desires and what the employer of the industrial forester desires. Simply put, industrial foresters attempt to buy timber at the LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE from landowners to maximize profit for their employer. Let the Seller Beware!

Also, beware of companies that masquerade themselves as independent foresters and instead are just timber buyers. For example, a long-term client of mine recently received an unsolicited offer for many "free" services from a timber company 118 miles away that might want to buy her timber. To get the free services ("boundary survey, subdivision and/or lake site conceptual layout and design, TSI work, 40 hours excavating for roads or trails"), she has to sign a timber sale contract by the end of the year (pressure sales tactic). Guess who really pays for the costs of such services? The landowner who sells timber to this company and receives a lower unit price for timber sold, that's who. The old adage "there is no such thing as a free lunch," clearly applies here.

Make sure to verify how any forester is paid before making a hiring decision. To be above reproach, a forester should only be paid by the client for services rendered. Recognize that any forester providing "free" advice is being paid by someone else and has no loyalty or obligation to you. 

Some forestry or timber consultants may not have the educational and/or field experience necessary to properly carryout a landowner's objectives. The minimum requirements that are important to a landowner for successful results are:

1. A Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry.

2. Successful real-world experience with the particular activity to be completed.

Make sure to check all of the above before hiring any forestry or timber consultant.

Here is what one university study had to say about the value of hiring a consulting forester.

Copyright 2009, Dwyer Forestry Consulting