York Timbers

Planning forester

Qualifications:

• BSc Forest and Wood Science

• MSc Forest and Wood Science

Forestry career: Two years

As a planning forester, I help plan and manage York’s bio asset. At an operational level, this means attending to every operational forester’s needs by supplying data and in-field support services, accurately and on time. I manage our in-house enumeration team, which involves issuing work and carrying out in-field audits. I spend most of my time in the forest planning office working on our forestry database management system, which provides the information foresters need to make informed decisions in the field. I also get the opportunity to go into the forest for field audits a few times a month.

WHY I LOVE WORKING IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR

Forestry is not like any other industry. It’s a fun and unpredictable field as we work in natural environments and with communities. It encompasses a variety of specialities that are all interlinked — from forest research and propagating trees in the nursery, to planting, harvesting and transforming them into valuable products.

We are privileged to experience all these processes and to interact with a diverse group of individuals, from tree breeders to foresters and engineers. We also make a big difference in the communities in which we work, not just in terms of employment but in overall community interaction. And, I love to see trees grow!

MY ADVICE TO THOSE EXPLORING A CAREER IN FORESTRY

I would say go for it! There are endless career paths to follow, locally and internationally. You get to work in some of the most beautiful parts of the country, with a diverse group of people. Most importantly, you’ll be part of the solution in mitigating climate change.