Skip to main content

WebAdvisor

MyCR Portal (Canvas, Student Email)

Faculty & Staff

Help Desk

CR District logo

Apply
Forestry & Natural Resources

Forestry & Natural Resources

Take full advantage of our outdoor classrooms in the heart of the redwood coastal forest.


About Us

The Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) program at CR prepares you for a career managing public and/or private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. Extensive fieldwork complements classroom discussions about forest ecology, fire and fuels management, inventory, surveying and wildlife biology.

 


Degrees and Certificates


College of the Redwood's Forestry and Natural Resources Associate of Science Degree is a accreditation by the Society of American Foresters.


Transfer Opportunities

CR is an affordable head start on the path towards a number of 4-year Bachelor of Science degree programs with concentrations like:

  • Natural Resource Management & Conservation
  • Forest Operations and Business
  • Forest Biology
  • Forest Engineering
  • Urban Forestry

Many of our core classes transfer one-for-one with CalPoly Humboldt's Forestry Program. If you’re looking to transfer outside of California, many universities across the country accept CR’s FNR courses.

 
Apply
Class Search
Advising
Deadlines
Costs


What to Expect

You will make good use of CR’s 270-acre campus that boasts stands of coast redwood, Douglas fir and other native species, as well as the other forest ecosystems of the national and state parks which are only a short drive away.  These forested environments are our outdoor classrooms where you will learn to apply lecture concepts and master field techniques. Internships are also available with local forestry-based businesses.

Employment opportunities include:

  • Forester
  • Conservation and Resource Manager
  • Remote Sensing Technician
  • Wildland Fire Ecologist
  • Park Ranger / Interpreter
  • Forest Road Technician
  • Forestry Aide for CALFIRE

California Employment Statistics

Forest Technician

$37,180

Median Wage with an Associate’s Degree

Projected Job Growth

+1%

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Outlook 2018-2028

Job Growth

We are surrounded by private, state, and federal employment opportunities. Employers of CR graduates include the U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies, CalFIRE, various forest industry companies, private consultants, and non-governmental organizations. Even more opportunities exist for students who are prepared to move elsewhere in the state or country.

The job outlook for foresters and forest technicians is robust. Fifty percent of current foresters/technicians are projected to retire within the next five years, which will open up new entry-level positions as more experienced foresters move up the promotion ladder.

fast Fact
CR’s Associate of Science, Forest Technology degree satisfies two years of the seven-year requirement for California’s Registered Professional Forester exam.
fast Fact

A forester is a natural resources professional responsible for stewardship of forest resources. In California foresters are licensed by the state to perform professional services that require application of forestry principles and techniques to management of forested landscapes.

Meet some of our Forestry Faculty

Valerie Elder

Valerie Elder

Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources

"All you need is appreciation for the outdoors and trees, and interest in creative problem solving that help us find solutions to some of our pressing problems like climate change, catastrophic wildfires, forest health, protecting clean water, clean air and enhancing wildlife habitat. A career in forestry and natural resources helps you make a difference with hands on skills gained in our courses."



Valerie Elder

Maddie Lopez

Assistant Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources/Geomatics

Professor Lopez is very familiar with the community college system, having started her educational journey at Sierra College in Sacramento, where she received her Associate of Science degree in Natural Resources.

She then transferred to Humboldt State (now Cal Poly Humboldt or CPH) to study Biology, with a minor in Botany. An early interest in natural science provided her with a deep appreciation for plant communities and their ecology, of which led to her involvement in two research labs.

Theme picker

GPS and GIS, Remote Sensing Technology

Going forward, all forestry, ecology, wildlife and natural resource jobs will require experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). CR is your path to that goal. You’ll leave here with skills in global positioning, geospatial analysis, digital mapping, and 3-D terrain modeling.

DJI_0404

A summary overview of the Student Complaint process at CR is at this link: https://www.redwoods.edu/Students/Student-Complaint-Process.html. The purpose is to provide a prompt and equitable means of resolving student grievances and is available to any student who reasonably believes a decision or action has adversely affected his or her status, rights, or privileges as a student.

The CR Forestry program follows the SAF Code of Ethics outlines the professional responsibilities of foresters. It emphasizes the importance of:

  • Stewardship: Forestland should be managed for both present and future generations.
  • Landowner Rights: Respect for landowners' rights while also acknowledging their responsibility to society.
  • Science: Using sound science as the foundation for forestry practices and policy.
  • Public Policy: Advocating for forest policies based on science and societal values.
  • Communication: Honest and open communication with stakeholders.
  • Professionalism: Maintaining high ethical standards in all aspects of forestry.

Please visit this link for the full statement of Ethics.

Contact Us

General Questions Phone : 476-4135 Email : Welcome-Center@redwoods.edu
Admissions Phone: 476-4200 Email: admissions@redwoods.edu
Financial Aid Phone: 476-4182 Email: finaid@redwoods.edu
Counseling Phone: 476-4150 Email: counseling@redwoods.edu

Division Information

Career Education

 Rory Johnson, Dean

 Gussie Solem, Administrative Secretary
 707-476-4341
 CareerEd@redwoods.edu

 CTE Division Office, AT-100C

It is the policy of College of the Redwoods not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, or sexual orientation in its educational programs and its employment practices. Read Full Policy Here

College Seal

Facebook Link Twitter Link Youtube Link Instagram Link

  2023 College of the Redwoods

Report a Website Issue