Career Opportunities
Graduates typically find work in the field in the following operations involving timber inventory, protection, harvesting or reforestation within both the public and private sectors:
Silviculture
- deciding which species to replace on a cut site
- collecting cones, extracting and cleaning seeds
- developing genetically superior seedlings
- growing seedlings in nurseries
- preparing sites for planting
- tendering planting contracts
- planting seedlings
- fertilizing and thinning trees
- clearing away competing vegetation
- pest and disease management
- monitoring growth of new forests
- using computers, entering data and keeping records
Forest Protection
- developing public education campaigns including media and publications
- surveying forests from lookout towers and stations
- conducting aircraft surveillance patrols
- monitoring electronic lightning locator system
- operating infra-red heat scanners
- training workers to watch for signs of fire
- removing brush and dead trees to reduce fire hazards
- directing firefighting operations
- planning controlled burns
- monitoring fires
- evaluating effectiveness of fire retardants
- managing telecommunications
Forest Management
- determining the most appropriate use of land
- estimating tree volumes and identifying trees to be harvested
- monitoring harvest
- developing reforestation strategies
- managing watershed and controlling erosion
- mapping and aerial photographing
- managing fish and wildlife
Harvesting
- developing detailed harvesting plans
- laying out logging areas
- planning layout and construction of access roads
- surveying land (cruising)
- hiring logging contractors
- supervising harvest operations
- organizing transportation from the cut areas to the mill
- measuring log volumes or keeping other records
Other webpages of interest:
Occupational information
Alberta Wage, Skills Shortage and Industry Information
NAIT Program Specific Surveys
NAIT Graduate Employers
Typical Employers
- Alberta Sustainable Resources Development and other Government organizations
- Industry and Consultants
- Land Reclamation for Oil & Gas companies
- Conversation Groups
- Private Land Owners