Foresters plan, administer and direct programs related to managing forested lands and related renewable resources.

Foresters work in close consultation with other land and resource management specialists to ensure that forest land is managed wisely. Their objective is to optimize production of forest resources and minimize adverse impacts on the land, water and wildlife.

Foresters may:

• prepare and manage plans for reforestation or forest renewal, and oversee seed and tree planting programs for areas where trees have been harvested or burned by forest fires
• assess and deal with the impacts of wild fires, insects, diseases or pollution on forests and develop strategies to minimize forest losses
• prepare and manage long term engineering plans and oversee forest engineering activities such as road layout and construction, bridge construction and culvert installation
• plan and supervise long term timber harvesting operations to achieve minimal timber damage and waste, and minimize the impact of harvesting on aesthetics, wildlife, soil and water resources
• plan forest land use activities such as recreational activities, domestic grazing, timber harvesting, mining, and oil and gas drilling operations
• advise government and industry officials on forest management issues and assess new forest management applications
• manage public involvement processes to identify best practices for forest land use
• oversee the business aspects of forest use
• develop and deliver public education and awareness programs
• develop and use computer programs to aid in forest management.

Foresters also may work in land inspection and enforcement to ensure that forest cleared lands are reclaimed to their most suitable end use, or that outdoor recreational activities and commercial land uses comply with the guidelines and regulations set for forested public lands.

Foresters working in watershed protection and wildlife management monitor wildlife populations and assess the impacts of forest operations on population and habitats, and study water yield variations following surface disturbances.

Forest research scientists and forestry research officers may work in forest management science and research areas such as:

• investigating the impact of forest operations on soils, water, wildlife and their habitats
• assessing human and environmental impacts (for example, air pollution, tree diseases, insects, fires and climate changes) on forest habitats
• investigating forest regeneration techniques
• developing and testing new forest products and harvesting processes
• conducting research on tree improvement (for example, developing superior trees through genetic selection)
• assessing how changes in forests impact humans on a social and economic level
• investigating new or alternative ways of enhancing forest renewal opportunities and/or minimizing the negative impact of harvesting.

In entry level positions, foresters may spend a considerable amount of time working outdoors in the field, by themselves or with small crews. They may work in remote sites or bush camps or spend hours hiking in rugged country, wet muskeg areas or over steep terrain in all kinds of weather conditions. Forest fire control activities are physically demanding and hazardous.

Foresters may choose to continue working in field oriented positions but most foresters work primarily indoors, planning and administering programs or conducting research. Much of their time is spent on activities such as:

• accumulating and analyzing data
• working with a large team of professionals (for example, biologists, hydrologists) to complete land use plans
• corresponding and meeting with industry, government and environmental group representatives
• facilitating meetings with all land users
• developing provincial and federal forest policy
• writing reports or scientific papers
• delivering presentations.

Foresters must have a university degree in forestry. Forestry research positions usually require at least a master's degree in forestry; often, a doctoral (PhD) degree is required for independent research positions. Computer skills are a definite asset, particularly familiarity with GIS and GPS systems.

The University of Alberta in Edmonton offers four year Bachelor of Science degree programs in Forestry and Forest Business Management. The entrance requirement for the Forestry program is a competitive average in English Language Arts 30-1, Pure Math 30, Chemistry 30, Biology 30 and one other approved Grade 12 subject. The entrance requirement for the Forest Business Management program is successful completion of the first year of the Forestry program. Normally 30 credits are required with at least 24 credits transferable to the program. The program includes a one week field school and a three week field school. The University of Alberta also offers master's and PhD programs in forestry.

Post-secondary institutions throughout the province offer university transfer programs that allow students to apply up to two years of study toward university bachelor's degree programs. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the courses they choose to take will be accepted for credit at the institution to which they wish to transfer.

For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

Outdoor experience (camping, bush travel, use of all-terrain or four-wheel-drive vehicles) is a definite asset. The Alberta Junior Forest Rangers  program, operated by Land and Forest Services, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, provides work related forestry experience for senior high school students.

Under the Regulated Forestry Profession Act and the Registered Professional Foresters Regulation, you must be registered with the College of Alberta Professional Foresters (CAPF) to use the protected titles reserved for regulated members (e.g. Registered Professional Forester, Forester-In-Training). Registration is mandatory if you meet identified competency requirements and intend to practice forestry on public lands.

Foresters are employed by the following types of organizations:

• companies that produce forest products (such as lumber, pulp and paper, plywood, panelboard)
• consulting companies
• educational institutions
• government departments and agencies
• power companies
• oil and mining companies.

Some foresters are self-employed private consultants.

Because competition for entry level forestry positions is often keen, related summer work experience is practically a prerequisite for permanent employment.

After several years of work in junior positions, foresters may assume responsibility for assessing data gathered by forest technologists and forestry workers, planning and implementing projects, and supervising technologists and forestry workers who do fieldwork. With additional experience, foresters may move into management and administrative positions.

Foresters who have several years of work experience also may move into related fields such as land use planning, reclamation work, vegetation control, surveying or working in provincial parks.

Foresters are part of the larger National Occupational Classification 2122: Forestry Professionals. In Alberta, 85 per cent of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Public Administration
• Forestry and Logging with Support Activities
• Manufacturing
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next ten years.

According to the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Forestry Professionals occupational group earned from $23.10 to $46.63 an hour. The average wage was $35.99 an hour.

Salaries for foresters doing reclamation and remediation work or resource management and planning work in the environment industry, energy industry or other natural resources industries may be higher than in the forestry sector.

For more detailed information, see WAGEinfo.

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see Educational Requirements above)

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

College of Alberta Professional Foresters website: www.capf.ca