Forestry Management

The Forestry Management Associate of Science (AS) degree will increase the opportunity for students to learn strategies and develop skills to protect and repair ecosystems after disturbances including factors such as fire, climate,pollution and drought.  This degree will enable students to enhance their understanding of Wildland Fire Prevention,Forest Health, Forest Ecology, Dendrology, and Climate Change as well as enriching understanding of Forest Management with introductory concepts of local California Indigenous Natural Resource stewardship. Concepts and practices learned from this area of study can help decrease the spread and intensity of wildfires thus decreasing destruction of large ecosystems and protecting these areas and the people that inhabit these areas.

This degree meets training requirements leading to occupations such as Forest and Conservation Technicians and Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists with Federal,Tribal, State and Private Agencies. Additionally, the degree also provides a pathway for transfer and continuation onto Bachelor level Forestry degree programs to pursue occupations such as Foresters and Conservation Scientists.

Intitial offerings projections are 5-10 students for the first 2 years and as the program gains momentum 15-20 students

The goals and objectives of the Associate of Science Degree are to address the need for forestry and fuels management especially in the area of rural northern California. This area experienced a number long-term impact to both public and natural resources due to large fires including the Dixie fire, the Hog Fire and Sheep fire. These impacts along with the loss of one of the largest local employers magnify the need for increased training and workforce development in various areas of forestry in order to develop resilient forest and communities.  This degree offers the required training in Forestry Management coupled with an understanding of wildland fire operations to meet industry needs for well-trained foresters and forestry related professionals.  This training enables students to apply for a number of forestry and fuels management positions with agencies such as USDA, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Cal Fire, National Park Service, and various other Private companies. This degree also prepares students for continued study leading to more advanced degree.   

Based on data from the North Far North Center of Excellence and on input from local agency providers from the Fire Technology Advisory Committee, the need for future employees trained in Forest Management is set to increase over the next five years.  Locally, it is estimated that there will be around 2,138 Forest Management and Protection jobs in the area by 2025.   

The Forestry Management program at Lassen Community College is designed to provide the student with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to prepare students for advanced coursework, degree attainment, and entry level employment in the field of forestry.

Upon successful completion of the program student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of forest ecology and understand how forests respond to natural disturbances or management activities.

2. Understand the use of fire in management of natural resources.

3. Develop quantitative and qualitative skills for data collection, analysis and interpretation for forest ecology and management.

4. Develop an understanding of forestry products and be able to evaluate typical financial investments in forestry.

5. Demonstrate an understanding of forest conservation, forest ecology, and resource management conflicts and solutions from multiple perspectives ranging from private landowners to industry and public lands.

6. Effectively analyze and integrate the social and natural sciences to understand diverse challenges to forest management and conservation

7.  Understand operational considerations while working under the Incident Command system during wildland fires.