Forestry is (The) Calling

February 10, 2015 9:39 am Published by Doris Sun, MJ 1 Comment

There is no denying the economic outlook in forestry has shifted in recent years to one of decided optimism. With international markets like China and Japan driving demand, increasing harvest levels, active research into alternative and innovative uses for wood, it would appear forestry is an appealing sector that can readily attract the next generation’s young and bright minds. But experience would often suggest otherwise.

Perhaps as a result of more young people being raised indoors dependent on their iPads, smartphones and YouTube, students are becoming immune to the lure of the great outdoors, which attracted countless current forest professionals to join the sector. Despite the challenges, many forest companies are pushing ahead with creative initiatives to, in some cases, inspire students and in others, provide practical and directly applicable job skills.

This issue of BC Forest Professional looks at education and the workforce from a range of different angles. Our opening Viewpoints article frames the need for recruitment, drawing on statistics that project major job opportunities as the baby boom generation starts to retire. A trio of articles discusses: one forest company’s efforts to reach out to high school students while many begin to contemplate post-secondary career directions; one company’s successful program to provide direct boots-on-the-ground logging experience; and a nationwide social media-driven initiative to get young people thinking about the forest sector in a new light.

Academia is also represented in this issue, with the College of New Caledonia sharing details on various applied research partnerships that have been possible by the $2.4 million in funding it received. The University of British Columbia, on the other hand, discusses its Urban Forestry program, potentially a fitting area of study for individuals who want to pursue forestry in the comforts of an urbanized setting. An alternative industry where forestry education can be applied — in oil and gas — is also examined.

Our annual special feature also fits perfectly with this issue’s theme, as it recognizes students that have benefited from grants and bursaries made possible through the ABCFP’s registered charity, ForesTrust. We profile our award recipients and take the opportunity to get their perspectives on how their forestry education has made a positive impact on their lives. It is an upbeat issue with a lineup of articles we are very proud of and we hope after reading them, you will feel the same about the sector you adopted as your career.