How to become a Forest Worker
Forest workers assist with growing, maintaining and harvesting timber plantations.
Personal requirements for a Forest Worker
- Enjoy practical and outdoor work
- Alert and safety-conscious
- Able to cope with the physical demands of the job
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Interested in forest protection and regeneration
- Sound literacy and numeracy skills.
Duties & Tasks of a Forest Worker
Forest workers may perform the following tasks:
- Prepare sites for tree planting
- Raise and package cuttings and seedlings at a forest nursery
- Undertake planting and other regrowth activities of native or plantation forests
- Control weeds and pests in both new and established forests using fertilisers, insecticides and herbicides
- Prune and thin trees in plantations by hand and using mechanical equipment
- Collect seeds
- Construct and maintain facilities such as access roads, buildings and visitors' amenities
- Prevent and put out fires, including maintenance of fire breaks
- Take part in fire spotting and controlled burning
- Maintain forestry equipment and vehicles
- Mark trees for harvesting
- Observe correct environmental practices to minimise impact on roads, water courses and wildlife corridors.
Working conditions for a Forest Worker
Forest workers are usually employed in small work teams. They may work in softwood and hardwood plantations and forests, in rural areas or in isolated bush locations. Much of the work is outdoors and therefore subject to varying weather conditions. Some aspects of the work can be physically demanding.
Specializations
Forest Nursery Technician
A forest nursery technician carries out and manages seed harvesting, propagation or cultivation of young trees at a forest nursery.
