DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE R E S E A R C H & E X T E N S I O N University of Arkansas System Agriculture and Natural Resources FSA5019 Consulting Foresters for Private Landowners Jon E. Barry Do you need a consulting forester Professional forest management Assistant Professor/ to help you manage and sell timber? can provide tremendous benefits to Extension Forester The answer you receive will depend landowners. Landowners have the upon whom you ask. Some consulting opportunity to produce income from foresters will tell you “yes” without timber sales, develop better wildlife hesitation. Some timber buyers will habitat, enjoy more hunting opportu­ tell you “no” without hesitation. As nities and provide a better environ­ usual, the truth is somewhere in ment for all of us by protecting soil between. Some landowners need a and water resources. Unfortunately, consulting forester and some don’t. It far too few landowners realize that really depends upon your background they can have these benefits. As a and your plans for your timberland. If result, much of the privately owned you have a college degree in forestry, woodland in Arkansas is not actively you may not need a consultant. On managed. Many of the potential bene­ the other hand, if you want to make fits to the landowners and to society money from your timber but have no are being lost. background in forestry and no experi­ ence with timber sales, you can bene­ fit from the advice of a consultant. What Is a Consulting Forester? A consulting forester is a professional forester who advises and watches out for the best interest of a woodland owner. Consulting foresters are in business, so they charge fees based on the type of service offered. Foresters sell some services at hourly or daily rates, while other services are sold at rates based upon acreage. Fees for conducting forest products sales are usually charged as a percentage of the gross revenue from the sale. No matter how the fees are calculated, the most important thing to remem­ Arkansas Is ber is that the consulting forester works for . When you Our Campus the landowner hire a consulting forester, that forester is representative in Figure 1. The professional forester is your your Visit our web site at: expert on forestry matters. http://www.uaex.edu University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating negotiations with timber buyers and service If you have any doubts about a forester’s contractors. That forester is the one you hire to qualifications, ask for the forester ’s name and office watch out for . address. Visit the Arkansas Board of Registration for your best interest Foresters’ web site (http://www.arkansas.gov/abof/) to People sometimes assume that anyone who works search for the forester. On the home page, there is a in the forest is a forester. This is not the case. Good link labeled “Find a Forester.” This will open a page forestry requires the services of people with a wide from which you can search for a forester by name, range of backgrounds and skills. Some workers are company, city or county. As an alternative, you can tree planters. Some workers are herbicide applica­ call the Board of Registration. Its phone number is tors. Some workers are loggers. Some workers are 501­296­1998. The Board can tell you whether foresters. Each of these workers has a different back­ someone currently is a registered forester who has ground and different training. Tree planters, herbi­ the right to practice forestry in Arkansas. No forester cide applicators and loggers typically don’t have the will be offended if you check. same training as foresters. By law, individuals who practice forestry for hire, including consulting foresters, must be registered with the Arkansas Why Should One Hire a Board of Registration for Foresters. Consulting Forester? Did you know that if you own woodland you have How Does One Know Whether money invested in timber? With some study, you could manage your woods yourself, just as you can Someone Really Is a Forester? invest your money in stocks or bonds and manage State law requires that anyone who claims to be a those yourself. Good forestry is complex, and prac­ forester for hire in Arkansas must be registered with tices are constantly being updated. A good consulting the Arkansas Board of Registration for Foresters. forester combines up­to­date education with experi­ Those who want to become registered foresters in ence. The assistance of an experienced forester will Arkansas must complete a minimum level of educa­ greatly enhance the efficiency and productivity of tion and experience. This assures that they can your timber investment. Prudent investors hire adequately serve the needs of Arkansas’ woodland experts in financial management to help them invest owners. Foresters who registered in Arkansas before money in stocks, bonds and mutual funds. They 2001 will at least have had several years of profes­ recognize that they will receive better returns on sional experience prior to registration. Most will have their investments if they follow the advice of an a college degree in forestry. Foresters who registered expert. Timber investments are no different. Consult­ in Arkansas after January 1, 2001, must have a ing foresters can provide the advice and services you college education and must pass a written test need to produce greater benefits to yourself and to administered by the Arkansas Board of Registration society from your woodland. for Foresters. To maintain registration, foresters are required to receive eight hours of continuing forestry By following the advice of a consulting forester, education each year. you are assured that your woods are being managed according to principles and methods discovered through scientific research. The consulting forester will use these principles and methods to manage your woods to achieve your objectives and to provide the benefits you want. Your consulting forester will guide you to the most cost­effective means to achieve your objectives. How Does One Find a Consulting Forester? There are several quick and easy ways to find a Figure 2. All foresters who practice for hire in consulting forester. The best way to find a consultant Arkansas must be registered with the state Board is to ask some of your neighbors who also own of Registration. woodland to recommend a forester to you. You also want to know that the forester is honest, reliable and can check your local phone book under Foresters­ can manage your timber investments well. Consulting. Any consulting forester who has an office in your area should be listed there. You should also The first step is to make a list of the forestry check the Arkansas Forestry Commission’s (AFC) consultants in your area. The size of “your area” web site (forestry.arkansas.gov). They have a direc ­ will depend upon where you live. If you live in tory of consulting foresters in Arkansas. The direc ­ south Arkansas, you may be able to find five or six tory provides contact information for each forester consultants in your county. If you live in north or company and a list of the services provided by Arkansas, you may need to look 100 or more miles each. Just below the AFC banner, select “Directory away to find your consultant. Don’t be afraid to call Searches.” Under “Consulting and LAP Forester a forester who lives several counties away. Many Directory,” select “Consulting and LAP Forester consulting foresters are willing to work anywhere in Directory Search.” That will open a window where the state. you can search for a forester by company name, forester ’s name, county or service offered. Near the Once you have a list of five or six foresters, call top of the AFC home page, click on the “Manage Your each one and ask questions. Some of the questions Forests” link. This will open a page with links to lots you might ask include: of good information for private forestland owners. Toward the bottom of the “Manage Your Forests” 1) How long has the consultant practiced page, you will find a link to a directory of consulting forestry? foresters. The directory is searchable by consultant 2) What is the forester ’s educational name, company, county or service. background? 3) What is the forester ’s registration number? You can also find a consulting forester through 4) For whom does the consultant work? the Arkansas Board of Registration for Foresters’ 5) Does the forester work for a timber buyer? (ABORF) web site; however, their directory lists all 6) What services does the forester provide? registered foresters whether they consult or not. 7) How much will the service cost? The ABORF directory is searchable by name, compa­ Knowing about the forester ’s education and ny, city or county. Two private organizations also experience will help you determine whether the publish directories of consulting foresters . The Associ­ forester’s education and experience are compatible ation of Consulting Foresters of America (ACF) provides a directory of consulting foresters that is with the type of woods you own and your ownership searchable by state or name. On their home page objectives. Checking the forester ’s registration (http://www.acf­foresters.org), click the “By State” or number will assure you that the forester has attained “By Name” on the “Find an ACF Forester” banner on an adequate level of education and/or experience. the left side of the page. The “By State” link goes to a map that displays locations and names of ACF members. The “By Name” link goes to a window What You Should Know where you can search by consultant name, company or state.