If you are a nature lover looking for a rewarding career, forestry might be the perfect fit.
Forests form part of the vital natural resources of every country, and it is an important and interesting subject of study. Forest resources have been a source of human sustenance for a very long time, and they are home to all kinds of wildlife, herbs, medicinal compounds, natural cosmetics, etc.
Forestry graduates go on to all sorts of exciting careers for a wide variety of organizations- both in the private and public sectors.
FUTURE SCOPES OF CAREERS IN FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
- Forestry and wildlife graduates can work with the Indian Forestry Service (IFS) for the protection and treatment of nature and natural organisms.
- They can also have jobs in botanical gardens, zoological parks, and biological reserves.
- There are various governmental and private organisations like WWF, Greenpeace, and SankalpTaru Foundation, where graduates can work.
- You can work as a dendrologist (those who study woody plants) in NGOs, governmental bodies, lumber mills, and environmental organizations with a forestry and wildlife graduation background.
- Graduates can also work as outreach specialists to help people understand how to restore and maintain wildlife.
- Forestry & wildlife graduates also can be an ethnologist who studies and design healthy habitats for animals in zoos, aquariums, and laboratories and also study animal behaviour.
- Silviculture is an aspect of Forestry that refers to the growth of plantations that yield periodic harvests. Forestry and wildlife graduates can have job roles in this field too.
- The zoo curator works for animal welfare, and conservation programs and also has forestry and wildlife graduation.
- Graduates can also find careers as forest range officers who work in taking care of public forests, sanctuaries, and botanical gardens.
- Corporate houses involved in timber plantations also need the services of Forestry and wildlife graduates.
- Wildlife photography, filmmaking, and wildlife journalism also consider professionals with Forestry and wildlife graduation in addition to the required skills for the specific fields.
- Forestry graduates can run their own private consultancy in environmental impact assessment of large projects.
SKILLS REQUIRED TO STUDY FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
- Strong communication skills
- Keen observation
- Planning and organizational skills
- Analytical skills
- Critical thinking
- Adventurous
- Physically and mentally aware of the environment
- Liking the outdoor
- Physical fitness
- Stamina
- Scientific temper
CAREERS IN FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
- Forester
- Dendrologist
- Ethnologist
- Entomologist
- Silviculturists
- Forest range officer
- Zoo curator
- Farming Manager
- Assistant Manager
- Agri credit Manager
- Nursery Manager
- Teachers/Professors
ELIGIBILITY TO DO A DEGREE IN FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
Students who have passed 10+2 in the science stream with Biology can pursue a degree in the field.
ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS
- OUAT (Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology) Entrance
The Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) conducts an entrance test every year to take students in different courses like Forestry and wildlife, agriculture, and horticulture in the different colleges under them.
- BHU UET (Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Eligibility Test)
BHU UET is a national-level entrance exam conducted by Banaras Hindu University. Students from all over India can get admission to various UG courses in this university and the colleges under it.
TOP COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA AND ABROAD TO STUDY FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
- University of Canterbury, New Zealand
- University of Alberta, Canada
- Lakehead University, Canada
- The Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, India
- Birsa Agricultural University, India
- College of Forestry, India
- College of Horticulture and Forestry, India
- Forest College and Research Institute, India
- College of horticulture & Forestry, India
- College of Forestry, Ponnampet, India
FAMOUS PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
Theodore Roosevelt
American politician, statesman, and conservationist. After becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt used his authority to establish 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and 18 national monuments.
Ernst Getch
Swedish researcher and farmer living in Brazil. He developed land reclamation methods that stimulate the natural reclamation of forests.
TOP INSTITUTIONS THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE IN THIS FIELD
- Forest Departments
- Zoological Parks
- Horticulture Departments
- Wildlife Research Institutes
- Wildlife Department
- National Parks and Sanctuaries
- Wildlife Ranges
- Forest Nurseries
- College & Universities
- Ecosia
- Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
- Botanical gardens
- National Geographic
- Discovery Channel
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- Centre for Environment Education
- Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI)
- Ernst and Young
- KPMG
Places of employment come under :
- Indian Forest Service
- Forest Management
- Forest Research
- Wildlife Biology/Management
- Plantation forestry
- Wildlife Media
- Corporate houses
