These consultants have a two- or four-year degree in forestry or wildlife management and/or professional certifications. If a certification number for a credential was provided, it has been included below for your reference. More details on organizations and certifications are below. Individual foresters registered with the State of Michigan (Michigan Registered Forester-MRF) have a number following their name. It is suggested that you check with more than one consultant and request references before hiring an individual, as you would before hiring any professional.
Do you need a forester or an arborist?
Foresters manage populations of trees. They receive their formal education and training in college, and can help with forest restoration, conservation, timber harvests, and managing wooded areas.
Arborists care for individual trees. They do not necessarily have a higher degree from a college in tree care, but they may have certifications that attest to their knowledge. They can often help with tree pruning, removal, cabling/bracing, stump grinding, and pest and disease diagnostics.
Find more Forestry Resources
Organizations providing certifications*
The following list provides the organizations and certifications that are filterable in the list above:
- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) - Board Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
- American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) - Registered Consulting Arborist
- Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) - Certified Tree Care Safety Professional
- Michigan DNR - Michigan Registered Forester (MRF)
- Society of American Foresters (SAF) - Candidate Certified Forester
- Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF)
- American Tree Farm System (ATFS) - Certified Tree Farm Inspector
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Technical Service Provider (TSP)
This list is not comprehensive and is for INFORMATION ONLY: no endorsement or reliability is implied by inclusion and no discrimination is intended by omission. It is suggested that you check with more than one consultant and request references before hiring. The WCCD appreciates hearing feedback regarding the accuracy of information on this list and experiences with contractors, please contact us as needed.