Forestry

Forestry technicians and technologists work in technical and supervisory functions in support of forestry research, forest management, forest harvesting, forest resource conservation and environmental protection. They are employed by the forest industry sector, provincial and federal governments, consulting firms, and other industries and institutions or they may be self-employed.

Career Options

• FORESTENGINEERINGTECHNOLOGIST
• FORESTRESOURCESTECHNOLOGIST
• FORESTRECREATIONTECHNOLOGIST
• GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) TECHNICIAN
• MAP EDITOR
• MAPPING TECHNICIAN
• PHOTOGRAMMETRIC TECHNOLOGIST
• REMOTE SENSING (RS) TECHNICIAN
• AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

On the Job...

Things that Forestry technicians and technologists do at work are:

• Conduct, supervise and participate in forest inventory cruises, surveys and field measurements.
• Assist and perform technical functions in the preparation of forest management and harvest plans using photogrammetric and mapping techniques and computerized information systems.
• Assist in planning and supervise construction of access routes and forest roads.
• Implement, supervise and perform technical functions in silvicultural operations involving site preparation, planting, and tending of tree crops.
• Co-ordinate activities such as timber scaling, forest fire suppression, disease or insect control or pre-commercial thinning of forest stands.
• Supervise and perform technical functions in harvesting operations.
• Monitor activities of logging companies and contractors and enforce regulations such as those concerning environmental protection, resource utilization, fire safety and accident prevention.
• Provide forestry education, advice and recommendations to woodlot owners, community organizations and the general public.
• Supervise forest tree-nursery operations.
• Provide technical support to forestry research programs in areas such as tree improvement, seed orchard operations, insect and disease surveys or experimental forestry and forest engineering research.

Educational Requirements:

Completion of a one to three-year college program in forestry technology or in a renewable resource program or forest ranger program is usually required.

Certification by, or registration with, a provincial association as a forestry technologist or technician may be required.

Certification or licensing as a scaler is required for some positions.