Forestry adviser
Also called silviculturist, woodland manager, forestry advisor
Forestry advisers provide services and advice on economic and environmental issues related to timber and forestry management in compliance with laws and regulations.
What you'd do
Farming, forestry and fisheries advisers · ILO- Collecting and analysing data and samples related to produce, feed, soil, water quality and other factors affecting farm, forest or fishery production
- Advising on techniques for improving the production of crops, livestock and fish, and alternative production options
- Advising on livestock and crop disease, control of pests and weeds, soil improvement, animal husbandry and feeding programmes
- Studying the environmental factors affecting commercial crop production, pasture growth, animal breeding, fish stocks and the growth and health of forest trees
- Studying the effects of cultivation techniques, soils, insects, diseases and fisheries practices on animal, crop, forestry and fisheries yield
- Studying fish migration, growth, feeding and spawning and devising methods of collecting, fertilizing, incubating and hatching fish eggs
- Researching into characteristics, use capability and productivity of soils and applying findings to development of improved agricultural, horticultural and forestry practices
- Developing procedures and techniques for solving agricultural problems and improving the efficiency of production
- Managing forest and fisheries resources to maximize their long-term commercial, recreational and environmental benefits
- Studying the propagation and culture of forest trees, methods for improving the growth of stock, and the effects of thinning on forest yields
- Investigating, planning and implementing management procedures to cope with the effects of fires, floods, droughts, soil erosion, pests and diseases
- Preparing scientific reports and conducting advisory information sessions and lectures for farming, forestry and fishing communities and other groups
Monitor water qualityAdvise on fertiliser and herbicidePerform project managementApply forest legislationInspect trees+ 10 more essential skills
What the work is like
- Indoors and outdoors
- A mix of sitting and standing
- Lots of contact with people, including the public
- Good freedom to decide
- Often more than 40 hours a week
- Deadlines now and then
- Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Foresters"
Will there be jobs?
Yes, good prospectsMany jobs will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
948,000 new jobs
2,300,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Right now
1 of 27 countries report a shortage of farming, forestry and fisheries advisers, 7 a surplus.
Farming, forestry and fisheries advisers · EURESWhat does it pay?
Above averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Usually a degreeA degree in natural environments and wildlife is the usual route.
Highest qualification of science and engineering professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 90%Vocational 6%General secondary 3%Basic schooling 1%
Field that teaches it
Natural environments and wildlife
Vocational route, EU
2 in 10 trainees in this field
Science and maths graduates in a matching job
63% in the EU
697 institutions in the EU offer science and maths bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
Very littleAI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.
How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High
Average task score 0.29 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 12 tasks
Preparing scientific reports and conducting advisory information sessions and lectures for farming, forestry and fishing communities and other groups0.54
Developing procedures and techniques for solving agricultural problems and improving the efficiency of production0.36
Advising on techniques for improving the production of crops, livestock and fish, and alternative production options0.34
Advising on livestock and crop disease, control of pests and weeds, soil improvement, animal husbandry and feeding programmes0.32
Managing forest and fisheries resources to maximize their long-term commercial, recreational and environmental benefits0.31
Studying the environmental factors affecting commercial crop production, pasture growth, animal breeding, fish stocks and the growth and health of forest trees0.28
Researching into characteristics, use capability and productivity of soils and applying findings to development of improved agricultural, horticultural and forestry practices0.27
Investigating, planning and implementing management procedures to cope with the effects of fires, floods, droughts, soil erosion, pests and diseases0.24
Studying the effects of cultivation techniques, soils, insects, diseases and fisheries practices on animal, crop, forestry and fisheries yield0.23
Collecting and analysing data and samples related to produce, feed, soil, water quality and other factors affecting farm, forest or fishery production0.20
Studying the propagation and culture of forest trees, methods for improving the growth of stock, and the effects of thinning on forest yields0.17
Studying fish migration, growth, feeding and spawning and devising methods of collecting, fertilizing, incubating and hatching fish eggs0.14
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for farming, forestry and fisheries advisers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).