Who does the work in the forest? Connections between foresters and the forestry workforce

摘要

Much of the work of foresters is at least one step removed from the forest itself. Silviculture prescriptions are carried out by contractors and forest workers. Harvesting is largely done by logging contractors and much other work in the forest is performed by technicians and forestry services contractors. In fact, many foresters interact with the forest and the operations there via CIS, computer reports, contracts, and verbal information. Forestry education does little to help foresters understand the nature of the forestry workforce. Foresters abdicate leadership for the development of a sufficient and qualified workforce to random social processes at local levels. It would be better if foresters thought of the forestry workforce like they do stand development. The forestry sector needs regeneration of the forestry workforce through recruitment; young workers need the fertilization of education and training; few foresters know how to thin a workforce; and there is age gap currently with many oldgrowth forest workers. The paper addresses these issues and suggests how current professional foresters need to engage in policy processes to help changes in the forestry workforce.