Forestry Officer
What do they do?
Work to prevent and reverse forest loss and degradation across the globe. Addressing the drivers of deforestation requires concerted action on many different fronts – for example, the development of robust sustainability certification schemes for commodities, working with the private sector to improve the sustainability of their operations, securing the rights forest peoples to land and livelihoods, and campaigning to ensure that governments protect forests and the benefits they provide. A Forestry Officer can work across several of these fronts or concentrate on a single area. A broad understanding of all aspects of sustainable forest management is always an advantage through.
What's a typical day like?
The role is typically office based and involves leading, managing, and contributing towards forest-related projects and programmes. This can include delivering research projects that inform our approach to addressing deforestation and attending meetings on strategy. Engagement with other internal teams – for instance those working in the field – and with external partners is very important. Organisations focused on addressing deforestation try to work closely together to focus effort where it’s most needed. Such engagement can include knowledge sharing workshops, conferences, and joint initiatives. International travel is required at times to attend important events and meet partners.
This career would suit people with:
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Enthusiasm for forests and environmental and social sustainability
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A desire to continually learn and stay abreast of the latest developments
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High attention to detail and the ability to concentrate
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Flexible and able to adapt readily to shifting priorities
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Excellent communication and organisational skills
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A willingness to travel and an international outlook
What makes it a green career?
The world’s forests are of enormous importance. They harbour the greatest concentrations of biodiversity on Earth and support the livelihoods of many millions of people – including some of the poorest. The crucial role forests play in regulating the climate, delivering clean water, and reducing air pollution is also increasingly acknowledged. At the same time, forests are being lost and degraded at an enormous rate – often to make space for the production of agricultural commodities. As a Forestry Officer you work to develop and deliver projects and programmes that help reduce these losses, restore degraded landscapes, and secure the long term future of forests.
What qualifications do you need?
An undergraduate degree in a relevant subject is required. Courses that cover sustainable forest management, natural resource management, environmental economics and law, and social sciences are likely to be most relevant. A Master’s degree in a specialist area can be an advantage.
How much would you earn?
£30,000 to £35,000 per year.