Forestry adviser

A forestry adviser is a professional who provides expertise and guidance in the management and conservation of forest resources. This role involves working with government agencies, environmental organizations, and forest owners to ensure sustainable practices that balance ecological, economic, and social considerations.

Forestry advisers typically do the following:

• Develop and implement forest management plans, considering factors such as timber harvesting, wildlife habitat conservation, and recreational use.
• Conduct ecological assessments of forest ecosystems, analyzing biodiversity, soil health, and water quality to inform conservation and management strategies.
• Advise on sustainable timber harvesting practices, including selective cutting, regeneration methods, and adherence to sustainable forestry standards.
• Recommend strategies to enhance wildlife habitat within forested areas, considering the needs of native species and biodiversity conservation.
• Develop and implement fire prevention and management plans, including prescribed burns and firebreak strategies to reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires.
• Assist forest owners in obtaining and maintaining forest certification, such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), ensuring compliance with international sustainability standards.
• Collaborate with local communities, forest owners, and stakeholders to incorporate their perspectives into forestry plans and address their needs and concerns.
• Develop plans for sustainable recreational use of forested areas, balancing the demand for outdoor activities with the conservation of natural resources.
• Advise on strategies to enhance carbon sequestration in forests, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
• Conduct economic analyses of forestry activities, including timber sales, non-timber forest products, and ecotourism, to support sustainable economic development.
• Provide input and recommendations to policymakers on forestry regulations, conservation initiatives, and sustainable forest management practices.

The following job titles also refer to forestry adviser:

woodland manager
forestry consultant
forestry advisors
woodland consultant
silviculturist
forestry advisor
forestry advisers

Forestry advisers work in various settings, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), consulting firms, and forest management companies. The role may involve fieldwork, frequent travel to forested areas, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

To become a forestry adviser, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in forestry, environmental science, or a related field is typically required. Practical experience gained through internships, fieldwork, or research projects contributes to the development of forestry advisers. Continuous learning, staying updated on forestry management strategies and regulations, and engaging with the broader scientific and forestry communities enhance the effectiveness of forestry advisers. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for building relationships with diverse stakeholders and promoting sustainable forestry practices.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Forestry adviser is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to forestry adviser.

forester
conservation scientist
countryside officer
aviation surveillance and code coordination manager
emergency response coordinator

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of forestry adviser.

• Forestry regulations: The legal rules applicable to forestry: agricultural law, rural law, and laws on hunting and fishing.
• Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
• Wildlife: Undomesticated animal species, as well as all plants, fungi and other organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife can be found in all ecosystems such as deserts, forests, rain forests, plains, grasslands and other areas including the most developed urban areas, all have distinct forms of wildlife. Handling of wildlife capture equipment.
• Agronomy: The study of combining agriculture production and protection and regeneration of natural environment. Includes the principles and methods of critical selection and adequate application methods for sustainability in agriculture.
• Ecosystems: The characteristics of the system where living organisms co-habitate and interact with non-living elements.
• Forest ecology: The ecosystems existing in a forest, starting from bacteria to trees and soil types.

These skills are necessary for the role of forestry adviser.

• Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
• Perform forest analysis: Review data, reports and studies in forestry. Based on this information, write a situation analysis report on biodiversity and genetic resources relevant to forestry.
• Apply forest legislation: Ability to efficiently apply forest legislation and principles.
• Assess harvesting impact on wildlife: Monitor wildlife populations and habitats for the impact of timber harvesting and other forest operations.
• Perform forest diseases control: Protect the forest crops against pests and diseases by applying chemical control measures, sanitation and eradication.
• Advise on fertiliser and herbicide: Ability to advise on fertilisers and herbicides when and where needed.
• Monitor forest health: Monitor forest health to make sure the forestry workers team takes all necessary actions.
• Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
• Inspect trees: Carry out tree inspections and surveys.
• Conserve forests: Strive to conserve and restore forest structures, biodiversity and ecological functions.
• Advise on timber harvest: Provide guidance on how to apply the most appropriate timber harvesting method: clearcut, shelterwood, seed tree, group selection or single-tree selection.
• Estimate damage: Estimate damage in case of accidents or natural disasters.
• Make decisions regarding forestry management: Decide on issues regarding various aspects concerning the management of natural resources such as forests and woodland areas.
• Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
• Coordinate new sites preparation: Choose and prepare locations for new trees, making use of controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear vegetation and logging debris.
• Monitor water quality: Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of forestry adviser. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Climate change impact: Understand the impact of climate change on biodiversity and life conditions for plants and animals.
• Geographic information systems: The tools involved in geographical mapping and positioning, such as GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of forestry adviser. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Develop personal skills: Set goals for personal development and act accordingly. Plan personal development by analysing work experience and establishing areas that need development. Takes part in training sessions considering his/her abilities, possibilities and feedback.
• Develop forestry strategies: Build up forestry policies in order to enhance their sustainable management and to improve communication linked to forestry operations. These plans are meant to tackle issues regarding correlated environmental and societal changes.
• Read maps: Read maps effectively.
• Lead a team in forestry services: Direct a forestry team or crew and guide them to the common goal of completing a variety of forestry related assignments and tasks.
• Write technical reports related to trees: Compose written adequate reports about tree-realted issues for parties such as engineers, solicitors, or mortgage and insurance companies, for example if tree roots are causing problems to the integrity of buildings and infrastructure.
• Interact with clients in forestry: Advise clients on elements of good forestry practice and attend meetings of professional forestry bodies and organisations. Liaise and work on forestry projects with other professionals such as landscape architects, biologists, geologists, chartered surveyors, engineers and charitable bodies.
• Report pollution incidents: Examine the extent of the damage and consequences when an incident causes pollution, and report it to the relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.
• Provide training: Provide training and orientation to new team members or assign this task to an appropriately experienced team member.
• Nurse trees: Plant, fertilise and trim trees, shrubs and hedges. Examine trees to assess their condition and determine treatment. Work to eradicate insects, fungi, and diseases which are harmful to trees, assist with prescribed burning, and work on preventing erosion.
• Assist tree identification: Assist in developing and improving techniques for measuring and identifying trees. Obtain and use various sources of information to accurately identify and name trees, use tree characteristics to aid identification, and identify tree species in all seasons.

2132 – Farming, forestry and fisheries advisers

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References

1. Forestry adviser – ESCO
2. Featured image: Photo by Kh-ali-l i