Forest manager

It’s a great time to join the forest industry, whether you're starting out or changing career. You'll help tackle the climate emergency and work towards a green recovery after Covid-19.

Forestry plays an important part in the nature-based sector. It has set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions, including creating 18,000 hectares of woodland a year by 2024. This is helping to support Scotland's transition to net zero by 2045.

As a forest manager, you'd look after an area of forest to produce timber and conserve the woodland environment.

It'd be your job to plan the planting and harvesting activities in the forest. You’d lead a team of forestry workers and supervise their work.

You'll work to keep the trees in the forest healthy and free from disease. This'll make sure the timber is good for harvesting.

You'd help to conserve the woodland environment so plants and wildlife can flourish. You’d also manage the facilities, like paths and signposts, to help visitors enjoy the environment.

You would:

• survey and inspect trees and sites

• select and mark up timber for harvesting

• plan, monitor and evaluate habitat management

• manage the maintenance of machinery and equipment

• maintain records of work

• make sure staff follow heath and safety policies

You’d follow the business plan for your area of woodland and manage the budget. For this, you’d need project management skills.

Depending where you work you may manage an individual site and report to a head forester who oversees work in several woodlands.

You might also need land management skills.

• Lantra Scotland — training and skills for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector

• Scottish Forestry — careers information

• Arboricultural Association — membership organisation for people working in arboriculture

• The Conservation Volunteers - support to discover, improve and enjoy your local green spaces