Eligibility for consulting and industrial foresters

Persons or firms desiring to enter into or continue under a Cooperating Forester Agreement shall meet the requirements as specified in s. NR 1.213 [exit DNR], Wis. Adm. Code, the Annual Cooperating Forester Application (Form 2400-96) [PDF, 125 KB] and Agreement (Form 2400-97) [PDF, 38 KB].  Under the definition in s. NR 1.21(2)(e) [exit DNR], Wis. Adm. Code, cooperating foresters are required to have "a bachelor’s or higher degree in forestry from a school with a curriculum accredited by the Society of American Foresters or an equivalent degree, as determined by the chief state forester and outlined below.

The criteria for a substantially equivalent degree must include a minimum of eleven courses across four broad areas of study as follows:

• Forest Ecology and Biology: a minimum of one course in each of the following subject areas:
• Dendrology
• Forest Ecology
• Soils

• Measurement of Forest Resource: A minimum of one course in each of the following subject areas:
• Forest Measurements
• Sampling Design and Techniques
• Surveying and Mapping

• Management of Forest Resources: A minimum of one course in each of the following subject areas:
• Forest Management
• Silviculture
• Forest Protection
• Forest Resource Policy and Administration: A minimum of one course in two of the following subject areas:
• Forest Policy
• Forest Economics
• Business Management

Note: Persons identified as a consulting forester in the Department's consulting forester list as of February 1, 1989, are eligible ("grandfathered") for the Cooperating Forester Program even if they do not meet the educational requirements specified above. If such persons drop off the list because of failure to renew or any other reason, they may not return to the program unless all the current program requirements, including education, are met.