Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands and other natural resources. Alongside field tools such as clinometers and increment borers, the BLS says they use drones, aerial photographs, satellite images and GIS data to map forests and measure trees. AI can speed up reading that imagery, but the decisions about the land are made on the ground.
The short answer: AI is a mapping and analysis aid, not a replacement. The ILO's 2025 index rates environmental protection professionals, the closest group, at minimal exposure with a score of 0.38. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4 percent growth for conservation scientists and foresters from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 3,000 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed foresters are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Professionals | Minimal exposure | 0.38 |
| Farming, Forestry and Fisheries Advisers | Not exposed | 0.29 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups for conservation scientists and foresters, not scores for the job titles themselves.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation scientists | Grow 5% | In total |
| Foresters | Grow 2% | In total |
| Total for conservation scientists and foresters | Grow 4% | About 3,000 |
The BLS projects the group to grow from 40,900 jobs in 2025 to 42,700 in 2035. It says many openings will come from replacing workers who change occupations or retire. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Reading drone and satellite images to map tree cover and damage.
- Estimating timber volume and forest health from imagery.
- Processing GIS data for management plans.
- Drafting reports and permit paperwork.
What stays with foresters
- Field measurement: checking trees, soil and water on site.
- Management decisions: harvest, burn and restoration plans.
- Working with people: landowners, agencies and the public.
- Checking AI help: image analysis and generated reports can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Drone, imagery and GIS skills count for more, while the fieldwork and land decisions stay with people. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace environmental science technicians?, will AI replace hydrologists? and will AI replace farmers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for conservation scientists at $73,920 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace foresters?
Not on current data. The closest ILO groups have minimal or no exposure, and the BLS projects 4 percent growth for conservation scientists and foresters from 2025 to 2035.
How many forester jobs are there?
The BLS counts 13,200 foresters and 27,700 conservation scientists in 2025.
How many openings are expected?
About 3,000 a year for the group on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
What technology do foresters use?
The BLS lists drones, aerial photographs, satellite images and GIS data, alongside field tools such as clinometers and increment borers.