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 consultants are more properly called industrial foresters and may not represent the best interests of a landowner due to a conflict of interest with their employer.

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. 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 2006, Dwyer Forestry Consulting