Forestry Technicians

Aspiring forestry technicians can gain experience by participating in an internship or part-time job with a lumber company or conservation organization. They may perform tasks such as timber harvesting or tree planting.

Forestry technicians must have a genuine enthusiasm for outdoor work and the ability to work in often extreme weather conditions.

Because the job is often tough and physically demanding, technicians should have good health and stamina. In dealing with dangerous or emergency situations, such as forest fires, it is necessary that technicians be able to think clearly and act calmly and efficiently.

It is of great importance that technicians be able to work without supervision. Often working in rural and remote areas, they may be isolated from a supervisor and other workers for days or weeks at a time. To be successful in this career, you must be self-sufficient, resourceful, and able to tolerate solitude.

Despite the remoteness of most forestry work, effective communication skills are extremely important. Technicians must deal with other workers, members of the public who use the forest for recreation, and conservationists who protect fish, game, and plant life. Technicians may also supervise and coordinate the activities of laborers and fieldworkers. Communication skills are needed to prepare oral and written reports.

Forestry technicians must be able to apply both theoretical knowledge and specialized occupational skills. They need to be familiar with certain principles of engineering, biology, mathematics, and statistics and know how to use a computer.