Today we’re spotlighting Dan Zajac in our Family Forest Carbon Program Forester series. An important part of our Forestry team, Dan works with landowners to manage healthy woodlands. He'll answer any questions about your property and work to support strong, native woodlands.

Dan lives in Canton, NY and he supports landowners in his home state, as well as those in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. He graduated from the University of South Florida in 2011 with a BS in Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences. Following graduation, Dan commissioned as an Aviation Officer in the US Army. After 10 years of Active-Duty service and flying UH-60 Helicopters, he separated from the Army in October 2022 to transition careers and return to school. In May 2023 Dan graduated from the State University of New York Environmental Science and Forestry Ranger School with an Associate of Applied Science in Forest Technology.  

 Dan first became interested in conservation after attending a field trip to a recycling facility when he was six years old. That experience has had a lasting impression on him, being so impressed, back then and still today, by the resourcefulness and the purpose of recycling. 

He became interested in botany and forestry during college. Dan frequented the library and botanical gardens for information and to immerse himself in the natural world. Trips to national parks across the country solidified his interest and desire to conserve nature. 

Dan’s first professional forestry position was as an intern. He completed tasks as a Forest Technician for a consulting company in the Adirondacks, where he learned about consulting forestry for large landowners. “I really enjoy my current position because I am now able to give back to smaller landowners that have been overlooked in the past. 

“I really enjoy my current position because I am now able to give back to smaller landowners that have been overlooked in the past."

“There are many enjoyable parts about being an FFCP Forester. First, I get to speak with landowners and learn about the history of their woodland. Second, I get to immerse myself in their forest and understand their connection with nature. Third, I get to talk about trees and advocate for the health of the forest and ecosystem. Lastly, I enjoy knowing that FFCP is providing a free service regardless of landowner enrollment.” 

Dan joined the American Forest Foundation in October 2023 and works with landowners to grow healthy native forests throughout New England.