Do you want to work outdoors and help manage Minnesota's trees, woodlands, and forests for the benefit of all Minnesotans? If you do, DNR Forestry wants you to join our team to help manage over 4.2 million acres of forest land across the state to provide jobs, forest products, clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. We offer variety, challenge, and opportunity to grow and develop as a forestry professional.
Variety + Challenge = Opportunity
Through a wide variety of year-round work, you will protect and preserve Minnesota's forests and natural resources. In the spring you'll plant trees, conduct prescribed burns, and fight wildfires. In the summer you'll monitor seedling growth, survey plant communities, identify tree insects and diseases, and work with wildlife managers. In the winter you'll monitor logging projects, plan spring planting projects, and snowmobile across frozen ground to remote forested areas.
Forestry careers with DNR
Click on a video to learn more about the different positions within forestry at the DNR.
Program Forester
Regional Forestry Specialist
Forest Health Specialist
Natural Resource Forestry Specialist
The tasks of a forester depends on where they work in the state and the season.
Northern Minnesota
Foresters concentrate primarily on forest land management since one-third of forest land is located in northern Minnesota. Tasks include: setting up timber sales, supervising timber harvests, developing timber stand improvement plans, and overseeing seedling planting crews. Fighting wildfires is a priority during the spring and fall.
Central Minnesota
Foresters split their time between preparing for and fighting wildfires and assisting private woodland owners. Fire suppression is a challenge in central Minnesota because more homes are being built on small woodlots. State forest management is less common because more woods are privately owned.
Southern Minnesota
Foresters spend most of their time working with private woodland owners to manage deciduous forests. Forest land management occurs because a 1 million acre state forest is located in southeastern Minnesota. Wildfire fighting is not a major program in this part of the state.
Statewide tasks:
- Forest road management
- Wildlife habitat management
- Nursery management
- Law enforcement
- Forest inventory
Listing of field offices and their locations.