Career Fact Sheets
Forester Dean Assinewe and Lacey Rose are both Registered Professional Foresters (RPF). Every day, foresters across Canada lace up their boots, put on their high-visibility vests; and venture out into the wild. They gather information, predict and identify problems, and come up with solutions to help manage forests sustainably. Some may even consider them caretakers of the forest. They balance ecological, social, and economic values. They also create detailed plans to harvest, regenerate, and monitor the health of forests. In this way, they ensure that important wildlife habitats and cultural areas are protected. Is it right for me?Since foresters work in the field, in the office, or in the lab, they have diverse skills. These include writing, technology, and plant and animal identification. Foresters should also be good communicators, as they must set up and moderate meetings and talk about their plans to many different people, including Indigenous communities and government representatives. You can find foresters in a variety of places doing many kinds of things:
Take our Green Jobs career personality quiz Forester salarySalaries vary depending on location and experience. They begin at around $45,000 and go up to around $92,000 for experienced foresters. The average salary in Canada is about $63,000. Forester education*In high school, take science, biology, social science, and math–all courses that provide important transferable skills for a forester. A bachelor’s degree in forestry or science is a good start. You can always transfer or upgrade your degree with one from an accredited forestry program. Most positions will require you to be a Registered Professional Forester (RPF). This designation means you adhere to a strict code of ethics for forest health and sustainability. You can apply for this designation once you’ve completed your degree. University
The Forest Professional Regulators of Canada provides a list of accredited programs on its website: www.fprc-orfpc.ca/accreditation *Not a complete list of resources. More resources | MORE FACT SHEETS
Urban ForesterUrban foresters care for city trees by managing the planting, pruning, and removal of any trees located on public land including streets, greenways, parks, and city property. Additionally, they are often the tree advocates for the city, and lobby for the importance of trees in the community. They do so by working with city staff members and various stakeholders to ensure that the correct resources are distributed to improve the health of the urban forest. Many cities today are trying…
Consultation CoordinatorConsultation coordinators advocate for Indigenous communities. They are a community’s main point of contact for outside groups. They review reports and help to negotiate agreements, such as when working with forestry companies to develop forest management plans and business opportunities. Consultation coordinators ensure Indigenous rights are respected. They also help to ensure that Traditional Indigenous Knowledge is properly collected and used. Consultation coordinators also organize opportunities for others to engage with the community.
Environmental EducatorEnvironmental educators love helping people understand nature and their relationship to it. They speak and write well and are good at getting their messages across. They provide facts, answer questions, and lead interactive activities, like games, field trips, hikes, and workshops. Environmental educators often make presentations outdoors. Forests and camps are their classrooms. They also spend time doing research to make sure their content is factual and relevant.
Forestry TechnicianForestry technicians gather information about forests and monitor how forest resources are used. They also do many other things. At any given time, they might be working on a conservation project, supervising a tree nursery, or helping to coordinate fire suppression efforts. A forestry technician is part of a forest management team. They work under the direction of a forester. |
