Forest Management for Wildlife Certificate

The Forest Management for Wildlife Certificate is designed to provide experienced natural resource professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to execute forest management with a wildlife habitat emphasis. The program aims to provide an overview of forest habitat requirements for key wildlife species (white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, neotropical birds) and connect them to sustainable forest management practices. To accomplish this, the program uses a combination of field-based workshops, site tours, online trainings, and a 3-day credentialing course. Upon successful completion of the certificate, participants will obtain the Forest Wildlife Habitat Manager credential.

FOREST WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT CREDENTIAL

Forest Wildlife Habitat Manager Credential Overview

The Forest Wildlife Habitat Manager credential is a collaborative professional credential that recognizes foresters who have the knowledge, skills, and experience to manage forests for wildlife habitat. The credentialing course focuses on applying the information learned in Forest Management for Wildlife Certificate workshops by working directly with landowners to identify their management goals, write a management plan, present the management plan to the landowners and the credentialing board, and mark their timber.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive Wisconsin’s only recognized credential for managing forests for wildlife habitat. The Forest Wildlife Habitat Manager designation will be added to the “Desired Cooperating Forester Certifications” on the Wisconsin DNR’s Forestry Assistance Locator and you will have the opportunity to share your contact information with DMAP participants.

Credential Requirements

To participate in the Forest Wildlife Habitat Management credentialing course and obtain the Forest Wildlife Habitat Manager designation, you must complete all of the following:

Have 3 years of forestry, restoration, or wildlife habitat work experience.
Demonstrate completion of a minimum of 500 acres of marked timber.
Mark a timber sale with wildlife habitat as the main goal (full plan will need to be submitted) AND
Complete all six workshops listed below.