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Hey there, I plan on taking the Natural Resources Environmental Technology course and am curious as to what kind of jobs are available through the course.

Question submitted by Ben

Hello Ben,

I’m glad to hear you are choosing a career in Natural Resources.  I’m sure you will be very happy in your career choice.  A technical diploma in natural resources will open up a world of opportunity for you. 
Graduates of such a Diploma program have many opportunities for full time careers with forest companies, government agencies, environmental research labs, or environmental assessment companies to name a few.  As examples, graduates of such a degree can find work with the Canadian Forestry Service, a provincial Department of Natural Resources, any forest company in the forest industry, consultation companies, municipalities and more.  Job titles can include, but is not limited to, scaler, manager, supervisor, operations manager, conservation officer, forest ranger, fish and wildlife technologist, etc. You will find that there is a very large diversity of career opportunities in the natural resources field.  This is a great career choice and an increasingly important sector for our society.  Good luck with your career.

How many openings are expected in the next few years in forestry?

Question submitted by Brian

Hello Brian,

Thank you for your question.  It is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of openings that is expected in the near future.  This being said, all experts agree that the outlook for career opportunities in the forestry sector is extremely positive and they are predicting many openings on the horizon.   While not an immediate crisis in terms of number of new professionals coming into the market, industry leaders and education professionals are very concern of the lack of availability of skilled workers and professionals.  The concern comes mainly from three factors: first there is a low enrollment rate in post-secondary forestry programs, second retirement rates are increasing and third demographic trends suggest there will be less people available to fill positions in all sectors, thus increasing competition for skilled workers and professionals. According an Atlantic Provinces Economic Council study of the New Brunswick Forest Industry labour force profile, tabled in 2005, the share of workers aged 45-64 will increase to about 44% by 2011. As a consequence, we will start seeing increasing retirements in the next 2 to 5 years and the numbers of retirements keeps climbing rapidly over the next two decades.

According to a study conducted by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers in 2004, retirements alone will create the need to produce approximately 300 professional foresters per year well over 300 forest technicians per year for a long period of time. This is not counting skilled workers and forest machine operators. It is therefore very important that the declining enrollment trend in forestry programs be reversed.  Without a supply of qualified foresters, the sustainability of Canada’s forests may be put in jeopardy.  It is also interesting to note that according to Human Resources Development Canada, competition for jobs among forestry professionals is below the average for other professions.  In addition graduates in forestry bachelor degrees earn an average 24% more than the other bachelor degrees.

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Unfortunately the number and quality of jobs that are available on opposite sides of the country are currently incomparable. Is this situation expected to improve, and if so when?

Question submitted by: Darren

Hello Darren,

Thank you for your question.  You are correct, the current market situation of the forestry industry in the Maritimes is not ideal.  You have undoubtedly heard of the perfect storm phenomena that has negatively affected our region during the past few years.  Several factors have contributed to the temporary slow down of the forest industry in the Maritimes.  The sudden and rapid rise of the Canadian Dollar and the slow down of the American Economy and the Pine Beetle infestation in British Columbia, which resulted in a salvage operation, are but some of the factors that has negatively affected the Maritimes and this is why job creation in the forest industry in this region is currently not very high.

This being said, the outlook for career opportunities in the forestry sector of the Maritimes is extremely positive and experts are predicting many openings on the horizon. In fact, most industry leaders and education professionals are very concern of the lack of availability of skilled workers and professionals.  The career opportunities will be driven by two main forces: large scale retirement in the forestry sector and new economic opportunities. If we take a brief look at the workforce issue, many studies clearly show there will be a major shortage of qualified professionals at all levels in the forestry sector.  This shortage will be driven by the aging of a very large cohort of baby-boomers nearing retirement.  The aging population is even more evident in the counties that rely on the forest industry.  According an Atlantic Provinces Economic Council study of the New Brunswick Forest Industry labour force profile, tabled in 2005, the share of workers aged 45-64 will increase to about 44% by 2011. As a consequence, we will start seeing increasing retirements in the next 4 to 5 years and the numbers of retirements keeps climbing rapidly over the next two decades.  In contrast, the number of young total workers entering the workforce in all sectors is projected to fall by 33 000 between 2001 and 2021.  This means there will be an increased competition by all sectors including the forestry sector for a shrinking workforce and there will be much more opportunities for young workers during the next few years.

Secondly, the medium and long term outlook (2012 and beyond) for the forest products industry in New Brunswick is extremely bright despite the perfect storm phenomena that hit the province in recent years.  The industry is in transition and positioning itself to take advantage of new economic opportunities created by the increasing energy prices, the prospective of carbon markets and the development of new bio-products and markets.  Climate change will force markets to look for greener sources of energy and products, creating opportunities for the forest industry to take advantage of co-generated bio-fuels and the new emerging hydrocarbon economic sector.  Equally important, is the projected rise of commodity prices such as lumber due to the lack of supply from places like Quebec and BC.  The rise in prices in lumber will serve as a catalyst for other products sector since it generates many by products that other sectors including the emerging bio-energy segments depend.

So, to answer your question, yes; the situation is improving and will continually improve over the foreseeable future.  Demand for forest professionals will increase and because of the demographic changes, there will be a significant pressure on the labour market creating a competitive market that will most likely result in increased salaries.

In the past forest management was focused on fire suppression to allow for maximum harvest of desired merchantable trees, currently the focus is more on harvesting to emulate natural forest disturbance such as fire. With such rapidly changing and contradicting goals to meet it is difficult to create long term management plans that will be fully carried out. How are professionals accounting for these changes in their long term plans, or is the focus on creating plans with the hopes the goals remain the same?

Question submitted by: Brad

Answer:

Hey Brad, thanks for your question. Forest management, like any other science, is based upon the best information available at the time. As we learn more about how forest ecosystems work and as societal values evolve, so does the sophistication of forest management plans.  The goals and objectives of forest management shift according to the desires of forest stakeholders (the general public, private owners, special interest groups, forest industry, consumers etc.)and the best available knowledge, therefore the manner in which forests are managed is continually evolving and improving.   In the past, the main objective of a forest management plan was to extract wood from the forest to supply the wood manufacturing plant.  Arguably, in today’s management plans, fiber extraction remains the critical element in forest management planning.  However, the ability to demonstrate that forest are truly renewable while explicitly accounting for a wide range of values critical to ecosystems and important to societies is absolutely essential.
 
Forest management in Canada falls into a continual improvement cycle of "PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACT" with long term plans being periodically reviewed and revised to reflect changing objectives, changing knowledge of the forest and methods of management.  This cycle of revision is typically 5 to 10 years in dynamically managed jurisdictions.

In the example you mentioned, forest fire suppression, one can understand that fire is seen as not only destructive to forest resources but, in some cases, life threatening as well.  Regardless of the threat to forests (fire, insects, disease), the primary role of prevention and suppression is to ensure humans may use the resource for whatever they desire.  In areas where a "Let it burn" policy is in place, it has been argued on both sides by both ecologists, forest managers and the public.  As our understanding of the important role that fire plays in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems has increased, and as our knowledge of natural forest disturbance patterns has improved, forest managers have come to the understanding that one solution to forest management is to emulate the way in which nature governs itself. Shifting from fire suppression to emulation is not contradictory; it is simply using a different strategy to achieve multiple goals at the same time.  The success of a particular forest management strategy is reflected in the demonstrated achievement of the designed goals and objectives to satisfy interested stakeholders.

Whether forests are harvested or not, they are in a slow, continual state of change.  They continually produce a multitude of products, services and values (recreational opportunities, wildlife, clean water, carbon sequestration etc.) in a shifting mosaic across the landscape. Changing tools or strategies does not preclude the delivery of past management goals, it simply changes how and when they will be achieved. There hasn't been a change from fire suppression, as in the places of interest, we still suppress them when they occur.  However, the emulation of their impacts in conducting harvesting of wood products for use by society aids in changing the forest in fashion more desirable to many interests.

I like the look and feel of a forest, how important do you think the aesthetics side of management is; why?

Question submitted by : Bart

Answer:

Hello Bart,

I love your question because most people feel the same way you do, including me.  I love the look, the smells and the sounds of the forest.  Because aesthetics are important to people, in many cases it plays a role in how we manage the forest.   The way forests are managed has been changing since man first built his home in them. During the last century, we have seen a major shift in the values and in the ways that we manage forests. Where we once viewed them chiefly as a source of material goods or as something that had to be cleared to make way for agricultural lands, forest management are now striving to provide and maintain a broad diversity of values, with aesthetics being among them. In some cases, keeping the ‘feel’ of a certain kind of forest has more value than any number of products that can be produced through its harvest. Ecotourism is an excellent example of an industry that is founded upon the look and feel of forest ecosystems. If we take a national park for example, the management objectives are very different than those on large industrial lands; aesthetics having a higher degree of importance in public parks. Many landowners are now including aesthetics in their list of values to be managed, and public stakeholders are more and more concerned about the effects of public land management on forest aesthetics.

This being said, I must add that we shouldn’t judge the health of the forest solely on the way it looks.  We are often tricked by the way something appears. If we find it unattractive, we may believe something is wrong or bad and if we find it appealing, we may think it is healthy and good.  In other words, when it comes to forests, many people tend to associate the visual impression they have with what is right and wrong.  If we take the example of a clear-cut, most people do not find rows of stumps, roots and piles of branches very appealing, and rightfully so.  But this has nothing to do with the ecological health of that area.  Within a few short years, clear cuts will have a higher degree of biodiversity than most agricultural fields and within five to ten years, we will start seeing a smorgasbord of growing trees that provide habitat for hundreds of species.  The forest is dynamic and regenerates quickly after a disturbance, whether it is fire, wind storm, insect infestation or clear-cut.  All of these disturbances are perceived as ugly by people, but this does not necessarily devalue the ecological integrity of the forest.  I guess the lesson here is that although the look and feel of a forest is a very important value, it should not be utilized to measure the environmental health of an area.

Thank you for your great question.

How long does it take a new tree to grow until it is big enough to harvest?

That is highly dependent upon the species, the location and the product being developed. In most Canadian softwood plantations, it takes at least 25 years before the first trees are large enough to be thinned out. These smaller trees are generally only suitable for use as fiber or very small saw material. In some countries such as South America, fast growing stands of eucalyptus are ready in as little as 7 years for a first harvest. In others, young saplings are harvested in two or three years to be used as a source of biofuel, either to be burned or turned into ethanol.

What is the difference between hardwood and softwood trees?

There are a couple of ways to answer this question. The terms ‘hardwood’ and ‘softwood’ are often used to differentiate between two distinct groups of trees. Hardwoods may also be called ‘deciduous’ or ‘broad leaved’ trees and refer to the type of leaves and flowers they produce. ‘Softwoods’ are also commonly referred to as ‘coniferous’ or ‘cone bearing’ species, describing their method of reproduction which involves the formation of both male and female cones or flowers on each individual tree. If the question is, ‘what makes some woods harder than others’, then the answer has to do with the internal structure of the wood itself. Wood is actually made up of millions of tiny tube-like vessels stacked together. The smaller and denser the tubes are packed together, the ‘harder’ and more dense the wood. It is ultimately this arrangement of vessels that determines the physical characteristics of wood. 

Are we going to run out of trees because of the number of trees being cut down?

Many people mistake forestry for deforestation when they are, in fact, complete opposites. Forestry is the practice of sustainably managing forests to ensure a continuous supply of all forest values, trees chief among these. If deforestation (a reduction in the total amount of productive forest land) is occurring this is a symptom of either changing land use away from forestry to other activities (agriculture, development etc.) or very poor, unsustainable forestry practices. Good forestry never results in a net decrease of productive forest area. If properly managed, our forests will produce trees naturally and in perpetuity.

When there is so much in the news today about forestry closures and job losses, how can there be new opening coming up in the future?

Like all industries forestry runs through cycles. Until the early 1900’s, our industry was founded upon saw timber and saw mills. These mills gave way to our current pulp and paper industry which boomed for over 80 years and proved even more profitable than the sawmill era. At present the pulp and paper industry is facing challenges related to the US market, the high Canadian dollar and global competition. While pulp and paper will remain a component of our industry, the Canadian forest industry is again moving towards a new, more innovative and high tech market that once fully developed will again prove lucrative and stable. Climate change, shifting public values concerning the use of forest lands and emerging energy and high-value product markets will likely shape the face of the forest industry well into the next century. 

Why do you have to do all that research on trees’ DNA and other stuff? What do you do with the results?

Tree breeding is a large part of forestry as it allows us to develop new and innovative ways of dealing with several issues that can otherwise hinder forest management. Through careful tree breeding and selection programs, varieties of trees specially suited to dealing with potentially damaging environmental factors can be developed and incorporated into forest management strategies. Faster growing varieties, trees with pest, disease and drought resistance and trees able to tolerate changing weather patterns are helping to provide new options in dealing with ongoing and emerging problems. Trees able to resist pests for instance help to reduce the need for pesticide applications during infestations.

My friend says that the forestry industry is damaging the environment. Is that true?

Currently, forests offer the most sustainable, environmentally friendly source of energy and raw materials available. First and foremost, wood and wood products are 100% natural, biological materials that are essentially captured solar energy and atmospheric carbon. If properly managed, forests and all of the values they provide (clean water, clean air, carbon sequestration, carbon neutral energy, animal habitat, building materials, recreation etc. etc. etc.) are completely renewable and sustainable. They do not need to be fertilized or produced in highly intensive systems like agricultural crops, and their use does not result in a net increase in atmospheric carbon like fossil fuels. Through careful conscientious management we can ensure a steady supply of all of these critical goods and services while helping to repair much of the damage our dependence upon fossil fuels and non-renewable resources has caused. 

Why are forests important to climate change?

Forests are key players in helping to mitigate the effects of climate change for several reasons. Atmospheric warming is the result of a net increase in several gasses, commonly called ‘greenhouse gasses’. Chief among these is carbon dioxide (CO2) which is produced when organic compounds (matter containing carbon) are burned. An accumulating concentration of CO2 is essentially covering the earth in an ever thickening layer of insulation, trapping heat and warming things up. Trees, through their natural growth, sequester or take in carbon and combine it with solar energy and water to produce wood, thus taking it out of the atmosphere and ‘fixing’ it in place. When fossil fuels are burned, carbon that was taken out of the atmosphere millions of years ago is suddenly made available again and resulting in a net increase in atmospheric carbon, contributing to global warming. The forest’s ability to help take carbon out of the atmosphere and lock it away so that it can not contribute to global warming make them an important tool in helping to reverse the damage done thus far.

When a tree is cut down, does it still help reduce climate change?

This is not necessarily an easy question to answer as it depends upon the end use of the tree to some extent. If the tree is being cut down to replace the use of fossil or non-renewable resources then yes, it is making a real contribution towards mitigating climate change. If we do not know how the tree is being used, at the worst it is having a neutral effect as the carbon released through its consumption is part of the natural carbon cycle. Once burned or decomposed it represents no net increase in CO2 levels. The tree itself is completely renewable and will be replaced if produced through a sustainable forest management system perpetuating the cycle of carbon sequestration. 

What has a bigger impact on climate change – a mature tree or a new sapling?

This is a good question as it looks at the sequestration and fate of atmospheric carbon from forest products at two distinct phases of development. It could be argued that mature trees have the greatest impact as they represent the source for sustainable consumer products and services such as bioenergy that will be replacing fossil fuels and non-renewable resources, thus reducing CO2 emissions. At the other end of the scale, young trees, as they grow, are actively sequestering and thus removing CO2 from the atmosphere. By ensuring that our forest practices are maximizing this sequestration effect we can actively reduce the total amount of atmospheric CO2, helping to slow or reverse global warming. In any case, forests in general are a key component in our fight against climate change.