UNH Extension County Forester, Greg Jordan demonstrates forest inventory techniques. (Photo credit: Andrew Fast).
The Granite State Division Society of American Foresters (GSD-SAF) endorses new industry-recognized credential (IRC) now available to high schools, adults looking for career changes, and other non-traditional students. The first cohort goes through the program in the fall of 2025.
“While there are IRCs that provide credentials to forestry professionals, this is the first in the nation that provides a foundation for non-professionals, including high schoolers, leading them into a core forestry career. Participants learn about silviculture, forest ecology, and forest management. This credential demonstrates basic literacy in forestry concepts and skills,” notes Matthias Nevins, chair of the GSD-SAF’s executive committee. It serves as a stand-alone IRC or students who are enrolled can use the program as a prerequisite to earn the Society of American Foresters’ (SAF) Candidate Certified Forestry Technician (CCFT) certification, a new certification that is a professional standard for forestry technicians.
Earning the IRC and SAF’s nationally recognized CCFT can offer a competitive edge in the workforce. Professional certifications not only provide evidence of competency and an ongoing commitment to learning, they also require adherence to standards of professional practice.
Patrick Hackley, director of New Hampshire’s Division of Forests and Lands and State Forester, echoes the importance of this IRC. “We have established some great collaborative workforce development efforts in the state, such as the New Hampshire Forest Career Field Day that brings hundreds of students together to learn about forestry careers annually. This is a next step for them, or adults exploring career changes, providing a pathway into rewarding forestry careers.”
“Our collaborators in New Hampshire, specifically, the Granite State Division of SAF, NH Timberland Owners Association, New Hampshire Timberland Owners Education Foundation, the University of New Hampshire, NH Division of Forests and Lands, and The Conservation Fund have done a great service to the profession and participants by creating a connection between people who are interested in outdoor work, and the professional ‘gold standard,’ SAF Certified Forestry Technician (CFT). We are excited about the interest and traction we have seen to date.”
The Society of American Foresters CEO, Terry Baker expresses why the connection between the IRC program and SAF’s Certified Forestry Technician program makes sense, “For 125 years, SAF has set the standard for forestry practices. This exciting collaboration reflects our need to evolve and meet the workforce needs of today and tomorrow, while serving as an example for many others.”
The IRC is comprised of 24 contact hours that are assigned SAF Continuing Forestry Education units. Students participate in a synchronous online introductory program, followed by 7 recorded asynchronous modules in different forestry topics. The participants then spend a day at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) reinforcing field skills under the guidance of faculty and staff before rounding out the IRC by spending a second day with practitioners in the field.
The IRC coursework aligns with SAF’s CFT Exam Domains & Knowledge Areas and allows students the opportunity to earn and maintain the Candidate Certified Forestry Technician (CCFT) during the program. Students enrolled in the CFT program in conjunction with the IRC program are required to take the CFT exam within 6 months of completing the program and can level up to the full designation of CFT after passing the examination and meeting the work experience requirements.
Jasen Stock, executive director at New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA), reflects upon recent forest industry workforce development successes in the state. “NHTOA is taking on many of the administrative tasks, and we are happy to do so. This aligns with the broader forest industry workforce development initiative we are employing. This program got established and has so much interest because of the good collaboration and work between the entities involved.”
The University of New Hampshire is the flagship post-secondary school in New Hampshire housing a respected forestry degree program and a nationally recognized Extension program. “UNH wholeheartedly embraces efforts that strengthen the state’s forest industry workforce, and we welcome putting UNH training facilities, infrastructure, and our teaching excellence behind this effort,” says Jesse Stabile Morrell, assistant dean for undergraduate and professional studies with the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire.
Teachers, students, guidance counselors, as well as traditional and non-traditional workforce entities can learn more or enroll by contacting Doug Cullen with New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association at 603-224-9699 or dcullen@nhtoa.org.
About Society of American Foresters
Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, SAF promotes science-based, sustainable management and stewardship of the nation’s public and private forests. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, SAF members include forestry and natural resources professionals in public and private settings, researchers, CEOs, administrators, NGOs, consulting foresters, educators, and students.
