Forestry Manager

Salary
Graduate: £14,500 - £20,000
Employee with 10-15 years in the role: £25,000 - £45,000

Main Employers

Forestry Commission
Timber merchants, contractors, sawmills, pulp mills and paper mills
Forest consultancies and management companies
Forestry Commission
Private estates and national parks
Land agency firms
Utility companies
Local authorities
NGOs

Job Profile
Forest managers are responsible for managing a forest area as an economically viable enterprise or social community area with due regard for the protection of the forest environment. In addition, they manage public access, biodiversity, landscape and recreation within the forest. The challenge for modern forestry is to establish a satisfactory balance between the competing economic and social demands for forest and land use, reflecting the change of emphasis towards multi-purpose forests, regeneration of native woodlands and sustainable forest management.

Roles and Responsibilities
Jobs will vary according to each employer; however you could expect to be involved in:

Measuring and grading trees
Conducting land surveys
Evaluating water quality
Planning recreational use of forestlands
Promoting the restoration of ancient woodland in the UK
Prescribed burning and fire fighting
Boundary line, park and trail maintenance
Advising woodland owners on planting design, budgeting, public access, ecological surveys and forest certification
Organising the growing, harvesting, marketing and sale of timber
Supervising forest workers and contractors in the field
Forest protection

Qualifications
Relevant further education subjects include: Agricultural Science; Ecology; Environmental Science; Forestry; Geography; Horticulture; Land/Estate/Property Management; Life Sciences; Urban & Land Studies.

Forestry qualifications are offered at a limited number of universities and colleges, including Newton Rigg in Cumbria, University of Aberdeen, University of Wales at Bangor, Scottish School of Forestry and Inverness. Other qualifications for forest officer entry are the National Diploma in Forestry, offered by the Central Forestry Examination Board for experienced forestry staff, and the Institute of Chartered Foresters, which examines foresters with two or more years experience.

Practical experience and relevant qualifications, whether academic or vocational, are essential for entry at higher levels. Experience may be found through working for forestry contractors, nurserymen, local authority parks departments, landscapers, gardeners or tree surgeons.

Career Development
There is strong competition for jobs, so gaining varied work experience is crucial. Due to the small number of vacancies and the intense competition, graduates often have to apply for jobs as forest supervisors. However, the growing importance of wood processing, the emphasis towards multipurpose forests, the regeneration of native woodlands and sustainable forest management has led to more opportunities for graduates. Jobs in the more traditional timber growing sector have been relatively static.

Promotion depends on the size and structure of the organisation. Many foresters become top executives in public agencies, conservation organisations, and corporations. Others become consultants offering specific forestry services and skills that they develop as they gain experience and knowledge. In larger organisations there may be an opportunity to specialise in recreation, conservation, training, research, harvesting and the processing of timber.

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