Do Consulting Foresters in States Requiring Licensing Manage Forestlands Similarly to those in States without Licensing?

Abstract In much of the southern United States, foresters must be licensed in their respective state to provide forest management services to the public. A few states do not require a license. Most of the literature about foresters focuses on states where licenses are required, and data from states that do not require a license is very limited. An online survey was developed to determine the perspective of consulting foresters with regard to licensing. The study employed an online survey tool, Qualtrics, to ask the foresters in licensed and non-licensed states about foresters' income, forestry practices, professional membership associations, and challenges in the forestry sector. The study revealed that foresters’ professional membership (e.g., Society of American Foresters) was associated with licensing. Also, forestry practices such as chemical site preparation, forest product sale, and thinning activities were frequently requested services with licensed foresters. Foresters working in licensed and non-licensed states reported that timber production was the primary objective of forest landowners, followed by land investment and family legacy. The study further identified market inaccessibility and logger unavailability as the primary concerns of licensed consulting foresters. The study findings have important implications for practicing forestry professionals, suggesting that promoting licensure could enhance accountability for their professional standards, strengthen landowner engagement with consulting foresters.