Matthew Bendell
Littleton
Summary
Passionate silviculturist with extensive experience at USDA Forest Service, adept in reforestation planning and conservation easements. Proven leadership in mentoring teams and utilizing ArcGIS for geospatial mapping and data analysis. Successfully implemented projects that restored degraded lands, enhancing forest health and biodiversity while reducing wildfire risks through strategic management practices.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Silviculturist
USDA Forest Service, Boulder Ranger District
02.2023 - Current
- Inventoried trees, assessed forest health, and monitored treatment effectiveness.
- Wrote silvicultural prescriptions for tree planting and thinning projects.
- Lead reforestation efforts to rehabilitate burned areas on the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest.
- Preserved wildlife habitat by establishing conservation areas and monitoring species populations.
- Reduced wildfire risk through strategic thinning operations and controlled burning techniques.
- Designed surveys to identify reforestation, cone collection, and wildfire mitigation needs.
- Secured funding for forestry projects through partnership development with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private entities.
- Developed strategies for addressing climate change impacts on forests including adaptive management practices such as assisted migration.
Supervisory Forester (Strike Team)
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region
02.2021 - 02.2023
- Applied strong leadership talents and problem-solving skills to maintain team efficiency and organize workflows.
- Mentored 10 forestry technicians in their career development, sharing knowledge from years of experience in the field.
- Applied geospatial technology tools, including GIS and remote sensing, to analyze forest data for improved management decisions.
- Trained new foresters in field techniques, safety protocols, data collection methods leading to increased team efficiency.
Forestry Technician (Strike Team)
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region
04.2019 - 02.2021
- Checked timber stands to assess sales volume and potential quality and marked timber for harvesting.
- Assessed reforestation success after harvesting operations by monitoring seedling survival rates over time.
- Prepared and collected data as directed by forester for use in forest management plans, timber appraisals, timber sales, timber tax basis and GIS mapping.
- Maintained accurate records of fieldwork activities, facilitating efficient reporting procedures for regulatory agencies or clients involved in forestry projects.
Forestry Technician (Seasonal)
USDA Forest Service, Hahns Peak Ranger District
07.2018 - 10.2018
- Assisted in the removal of hazardous trees to ensure public safety and minimize property damage.
- Performed thorough assessments of tree health to identify necessary maintenance or removal actions.
- Consistently met project deadlines by working closely with supervisors to understand and prioritize tasks, ensuring timely completion of work assignments.
- Increased productivity by utilizing efficient chainsaw techniques and maintaining equipment regularly.
Field and Lab Technician
Colorado State University
05.2016 - 08.2016
- Kept detailed records of field measurements and data.
- Analyzed tree cores to summarize age of sampled stand.
- Spent overnights camping to complete sample collection needs.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Forest Management
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO12-2017
Certificate - Wildlife Management
Front Range Community College
Fort Collins, CO12-2017
Skills
- Silviculture practices
- Conservation easements
- Tree planting
- Tree identification
- Forest health assessment
- Land use planning
- Climate change adaptation
- Project management
- Technical report writing
- ArcGIS expertise
- Habitat restoration
- Reforestation planning
Timeline
Silviculturist
USDA Forest Service, Boulder Ranger District
02.2023 - Current
Supervisory Forester (Strike Team)
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region
02.2021 - 02.2023
Forestry Technician (Strike Team)
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region
04.2019 - 02.2021
Forestry Technician (Seasonal)
USDA Forest Service, Hahns Peak Ranger District
07.2018 - 10.2018
Field and Lab Technician
Colorado State University
05.2016 - 08.2016
Bachelor of Science - Forest Management
Colorado State University
Certificate - Wildlife Management
Front Range Community College
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