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A
Job To Love
Imagine walking through a thick, green
forest. It’s a beautiful June day
and the temperature is perfect for a
morning hike. You count the number of
new trees growing and notice fresh bear
tracks. You can hardly believe that
it was just three years ago that you
helped guide the selective cutting and
planting of this forest. Today, you
smile with the knowledge that bears
and other wildlife still use this habitat
as their home. Not only is the forest
healthy, but you know that you fulfilled
your job of sustaining a forest and
making a difference for wildlife and
for people who use forests and wood
products.
Foresters
manage, use, and protect forests,
wildlife, and natural resources. They
work in offices and outdoors either,
by themselves or as part of a small
crew. Many foresters live where they
grew up and many Aboriginal foresters
ensure that forests are used wisely
while keeping the interests of First
Nations communities in mind.
For
the most part, a beautiful, lush forest
tops an indoor office, but this job
still isn’t perfect. As a forester,
you’ll spend hours driving or
flying to remote worksites and bush
camps. The traveling will keep you
away from family and friends. You’ll
hike through the forests no matter
what the weather is like. You’ll
also be involved in forest fire control,
which can be physically demanding
and hazardous. However, you might
find that you enjoy the challenges
of working outdoors and making a difference—even
in tough conditions.
Job
Description
Foresters ensure that the values of
community members are identified, considered,
and integrated into forest planning
and operations. For example, a forester
might monitor wildlife populations to
ensure that timber harvesting is not
having a negative impact on animals.
Foresters work for Tribal Councils,
First Nations, oil and mining companies,
lumber companies and the government.
Many foresters are self-employed.
Job
Duties
- Consult
with Elders, trappers, hunters,
and others to identify and protect
traditional territories that are
important to band members
- Develop
strategies to minimize forest losses
due to wild fires, insects, diseases,
and pollution
- Oversee
seed and tree planting programs
for areas where trees have been
harvested or burned by forest fires
- Plan
and supervise timber harvesting
operations to achieve minimal damage
to timber, forest health, wildlife,
and water resources
- Develop
communications strategies to inform
the media of First Nation’s
concerns and interests in traditional
territories
Fact
The boreal forest covers the planet’s
northern hemisphere like a green cloak,
spanning some 12,000 kilometres and
covering close to 12 per cent of the
Earth’s surface.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include biology, chemistry,
math, and English. Aboriginal studies,
history, and languages will prepare
you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as computers,
statistics, and environmental studies.
The minimum education requirement for
this job is a college diploma in forestry
technology. Advanced degrees in forestry
or biology will make you more competitive
in the job market and you’ll find
it easier to get a job and negotiate
your salary.
Look into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
Before entering the workforce, foresters
might require training in:
- Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) use
- Orienteering
- Standard
and Wilderness First Aid
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Foresters
with a college diploma make an average
of $32,000.00 per year.
Foresters with a university degree
make an average of $48,000.00 per
year.
Foresters with several years experience
and education make an average of $90,000.00
per year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following award is specific
to foresters:
Diversity Through Education
Up to $1,900.00 for Aboriginal students
who are residents of BC and are registered
in a university or technical forestry
program.
Contact: Diversity through
Education
Weyerhaeuser Canada, BC Division
P.O. Box 800
Kamloops, BC
V2C 5M7
Telephone: (250) 828-7387
Fax: (250) 828-7580
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Find out how your Elders
use trees. Ask how bugs or disease
impact tree health. Join your family
on hiking, fishing, and camping trips.
The time you spend outdoors will make
your studies easier and your experience
with the natural world will appeal
to employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Botanist
- Agricultural
technician
- Forest
fire fighter
- Tree
planter
Relate
and interact with foresters. Ask them
what they like about their jobs, and
how you should get started.
First Nations Forestry Program
Canadian Forest Service
580 Booth Street, 7th Floor
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4
Telephone: (613) 947-7380
Fax: (613) 992-5390
email: info@fnfp.gc.ca
website: www.fnfp.gc.ca
National
Aboriginal Forestry Association
875 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON
K1S 3W4
Telephone: (613) 233-5563
Fax: (613) 233-4329
email: nafa@web.ca
website: www.nafaforestry.org
The
Canadian Institute of Forestry
606 - 151 Slater Street
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5H3
Telephone: (613) 234-2242
Fax: (613) 234-6181
email: cif@cif-ifc.org
website: www.cif-ifc.org
The
Boreal Forest Research Centre
H.A. George Building, Fairview College
Bag 3500
Peace River, AB
T8S 1V9
Telephone: (780) 618-2623
Fax: (780) 624-0725
email: boreal@fairviewcollege.com
website: www.borealcentre.com
Relate to other students. There are
Aboriginal student associations and
resource centres at most universities.
Visit these centres to find out what
they have to offer. Also, look into
community, friendship, and multi-cultural
centres.
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