Forest officer

You would look after an area of forest to produce timber and conserve the woodland environment.

You’d plan the planting and harvesting activities in the forest. You’d lead a team of forestry workers and supervise their work.

It will be your responsibility to make sure that the trees in the forest are healthy and free from disease so the timber can be harvested.

Your work would help to conserve the woodland environment so that other 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 to be harvested
• Plan, monitor and evaluate habitat management
• Manage the maintenance of machinery and equipment
• Maintain records of work
• Ensure that heath and safety policies are followed

You’d follow the business plan for your area of woodland and manage the budget so 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 require land management skills.