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difficult for a buyer also to serve the interest of a seller in a timber
transaction.
When forest owners need more specific recommendations and
analysis of their woodlands, and they want a forester who will
protect their business interests in expensive site preparation and
reforestation operations or revenue-generating timber sales, they
often look to the business-oriented consulting forester. Just like
there are various types of professional foresters, there are different
types of consulting foresters. Forest landowners need to know
what to look for when considering the investment in consulting
forester services.
WHAT IS A CONSULTING FORESTER?
Consulting foresters manage forests and market forest products
for private woodland owners. They represent and protect the
forest landowner's interests. The landowner is principal, and the
consultant is the landowner's agent.
A consultant's services cannot be free; they operate a business
and charge for services, usually on a fee basis (hourly, per acre,
or a percentage of timber sales revenue). This establishes a client
relationship and the expectation that they always will represent
the best interests of the forest owner. A consulting forester works
for the forest owner, not a government agency or a wood-using
mill. Forestry is a business for many forest owners and hiring
a professional forester makes good business sense, especially in
negotiating and supervising timber sales, and guiding management
so that your forest produces the desired return.
Many forest landowners associate consulting foresters with
timber sales. After all, two of the most common tasks they are
hired for are determining the volume of merchantable timber
on a tract before harvest and then determining the value of that
timber. However, this is just one aspect of the services offered by
consulting foresters.
22
FOREST LANDOWNER
WWW.FORESTLANDOWNERS.COM
CREDENTIALS
Consulting foresters can have a variety of credentials. Some of
the highest standards involve membership in the Association
of Consulting Foresters (ACF). The ACF has educational and
experience qualifications, requires course work in the practice of
consulting forestry, and maintains high ethical standards.
An ACF member's principal business will be forestry
consulting and he or she is not allowed to have an economic
interest in a timber purchasing or procurement entity. The ACF
website provides a menu to look up member foresters within
each state. The Society of American Foresters (SAF) offers
credentialing as a Certified Forester (CF) and this also assures
educational and experience qualifications. Certified foresters are
allowed to self-identify as consultants and the SAF website will
produce a list of CF consultants within a state.
Forester licensing and registration laws exist in 16 states,
providing a registered forester (RF) credential. Often the
registration boards will identify RFs that offer consulting services.
State professional associations of consulting foresters also exist
(i.e. the Minnesota Association of Consulting Foresters and the
Missouri Consulting Foresters Association).
Many states, with and without forester registration or
licensing laws, offer lists of consulting foresters maintained by
state agencies, state forestry associations, or university extension
organizations. Hiring a qualified consulting forester requires
understanding the differences between an ACF member, CF, and
RF. Additionally, many consulting foresters are also licensed real
estate brokers, real estate appraisers, and some are professional
land surveyors.
ADVANTAGES OF A CONSULTING
FORESTER
Why pay for a consulting forester when there are cheaper options?
Timber sales involve significant money and mishandling a sale
can cost the landowner money. Even timber sales handled by the
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CONSIDERATIONS IN HIRING A
CONSULTING FORESTER
Like forest landowners, consulting foresters come in many forms,
from sole proprietors that serve small regions, to larger multistate and international firms. Smaller firms can't provide all of
the services of a larger firm, but smaller firms often provide more
access to small owners. The size and scale of the management task
at hand will define the size of consulting firm needed.
Besides the independence already discussed, what should
a forest landowner look for in a consulting forester? First, the
educational background should include a B.S. in forestry from an
accredited program (or equivalent master's degree). Experience
is important, both as a forester and as a forestry consultant.
SAF, ACF, and RF credentials guarantee minimum experience
as a forester. Most consulting foresters emphasize professional
standards and value their reputations among clients and
colleagues. Forest landowners should feel comfortable asking them
for references. Membership in professional societies is telling.
24
FOREST LANDOWNER
WWW.FORESTLANDOWNERS.COM
Geography also comes into play; consulting foresters often
limit their practice to a specific area. Generally, for small
woodland owners, it is a good idea to employ a consultant within a
few hours driving time of your woodlands.
Not all forestry consultants are created alike. It can be difficult
to understand the differences between Registered Foresters,
procurement foresters, timber buyers, Certified Foresters, and
consulting foresters; not even all RFs are graduate foresters due
to lax state laws. Credentials matter and the forest landowner
ought to understand them. The landowner needs to start with
the standard questions on references, insurance, reliability, and
professional background.
Forestry consultants also specialize. Certain consultants
have specialized skills in practices dealing with hardwoods,
longleaf pine, forest taxation, or water quality problems. Forest
owners with specialized concerns often will do best in locating a
consultant that specializes in that concern.
Also keep in mind the important caveat stressed above; another
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