10.06: Standards of Professional Conduct

(1) Licensed Foresters shall adhere to the ethical and professional standards in 304 CMR 10.06. Non-compliance with these standards may result in the Director taking disciplinary action against the Licensed Forester.

(2) Licensed Foresters shall advocate and practice land management consistent with ecologically sound principles. Licensed Foresters shall perform services consistent with sound forest management and in the best interest of the employer or client. Licensed Foresters shall advise their clients or employers of the long and short term consequences of management alternatives.

(3) Licensed Foresters shall utilize their knowledge or skills for the benefit of society. Licensed Foresters shall strive for accurate, current and increasing knowledge of forestry, shall communicate such knowledge and shall challenge and correct untrue statements about forestry.

(4) Licensed Foresters shall base public comment on forestry matters on accurate knowledge and shall not distort or withhold pertinent information to substantiate a point of view. Prior to making public statements on forest policies and practices, a Licensed Forester shall indicate on whose behalf the statements are made.

(5) Licensed Foresters shall make only accurate statements of the services that they are qualified and prepared to perform or provide and shall perform only those services for which the Licensed Forester are qualified by education or experience.

(6) Licensed Foresters shall engage, or advise their employers to engage, other experts and specialists in forestry whenever the employer's interest would be served by such action, and the Licensed Forester shall work cooperatively with other professionals.

(7) Licensed Foresters supplying forestry services shall disclose a list of all fees, salaries or other compensation to be charged for their services to prospective clients.

(8) Licensed Foresters shall disclose all known or potential conflicts of interest, involving substantial value to their employers, clients or bidders, by promptly informing them of any business association, interest or other circumstances which would or could influence or give the impression of influencing their judgment or the quality of their services. For purposes of 304 CMR 10.06, "substantial value" shall constitute business relationships which comprise, directly or indirectly, $50.00 or more within a calendar year.

(9) Licensed Foresters shall not accept or solicit compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party on the same project unless circumstances are fully disclosed in writing to all parties, including contractors and their agents.

(10) Licensed Foresters shall not voluntarily disclose information concerning the affairs of employers or applicants without express permission.

(11) At the time of public or private offerings, Licensed Foresters are required to disclose the methods of measurements and data developed in these measurements.

(12) Licensed Foresters shall notify the FLB if their registration, certification or license is suspended or revoked in another jurisdiction.

(13) When boundary work determines ownership of forest products or land on which forest service will be performed, Licensed Foresters shall be prepared to demonstrate that they have performed due diligence on boundary research prior to providing forestry services. At no time shall a Licensed Forester represent that their boundary determination services be relied on for any purpose other than the practice of forestry.

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