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Engineering ServicesISCO 3143

Forestry technician

A forestry technician is a person who assists and supports a forest manager, carries out the decisions that manager takes, and supervises the crews who do the work in the forest.

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Rate 5 of the 22 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

monitor logging operations

provide first aid

apply prescribed herbicides

apply forest legislation

maintain forest roads

About forestry technician

The technician supervises a team of forestry equipment operators, operates forestry equipment themselves and maintains it. They carry out afforestation surveys, recording what has been planted, what has taken and what has to be replanted, and they carry out forest thinning, selecting which trees come out so that the ones left standing have room and light. Recommended herbicides are applied where young plantings are being overgrown, in the doses and conditions the label allows.

The technician also supports forestry and environmental protection through research and data collection, measuring, counting and recording, and those records feed the conservation and harvesting plans they then help manage.

Forest ecology is the knowledge behind every one of those decisions: which species belong on a given soil, what a stand will look like in decades, and what a clearing does to the ground water. Monitoring the work site is a safety duty, and providing first aid is part of it. Formal requirements are set by national forestry rules.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (22)

environmental policyenvironmental policyLocal, national and international policies dealing with the promotion of environmental sustainability and the development of projects which reduce negative environmental impact and improve the state o...ecosystem managementecosystem managementThe set of approaches that takes into account the effect of a management decision on other elements of an ecosystem. It also addresses the optimization of diverse management strategies and the challen...habitat restorationhabitat restorationThe process of repairing and rehabilitating areas that suffered habitat destruction, alteration of seafloor or the threat of extinction of some animal and plant species. Habitat restoration also invol...fire-fighting systemsfire-fighting systemsThe devices and systems used to extinguish fires; the classes and chemistry of fire.reforestationreforestationMethods for the recovery of deforested areas to reverse the destruction of forests and regreen an important number of hectares. Strategies as planting new trees, protecting ecosystems from destruction...forest ecologyforest ecologyThe ecosystems existing in a forest, starting from bacteria to trees and soil types.loggingloggingThe process of felling, cutting trees and transforming them into timber, including mechanical felling and processing.monitor logging operationsmonitor logging operationsEnsure that logging operation follow the contractually agreed terms and specified procedures. Strive to solve any problems that arise during the operation. Improve on existing methods and ensure compl...provide first aidprovide first aidAdminister cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.apply prescribed herbicidesapply prescribed herbicidesCarry out, under supervision and as authorised, the spraying of prescribed herbicides in accordance with training and skills acquired, using manufacturers’ application rates, in accordance with materi...apply forest legislationapply forest legislationApply laws that govern activities in forest lands in order to protect resources and prevent harmful actions such as forest clearing and logging.maintain forest roadsmaintain forest roadsInspect the forest roads in order to spot malfunctions, such as fallen trees, and organise repair processes.coordinate timber salescoordinate timber salesEfficiently coordinate timber selling in a profitable way. Assist companies in reaching timber production goals by managing timber sales. Takes lead role in timber sale layout and road location activi...monitor work sitemonitor work siteRegularly ensure that working conditions on site meet health and safety requirements; ensure that the proposed work will not pose a threat to the physical integrity of others.conduct reforestation surveysconduct reforestation surveysDetermine the maintenance and distribution of seedling. Identify disease and damage done by animals. Prepare and submit notifications, written plans and budgets for reforestation.perform tree thinningperform tree thinningRemoving some trees from a stand in order to improve tree health, timber value and production.plant green plantsplant green plantsPlant seeds manually or by using ground equipment.maintain forestry equipmentmaintain forestry equipmentCheck forestry equipment to make sure that it is in working order.supervise forestry workerssupervise forestry workersSupervise and coordinate the staff that works in the forestry areas.vegetation controlvegetation controlSpray vegetation by the sides of roads to control its encroachment on forest roads.manage forest firesmanage forest firesProtect life, property and resources by preventing forest fires. Detect, control, restrict and suppress fires when they occur. Integrate knowledge of fire regimes, the effects of fire and the values a...operate forestry equipmentoperate forestry equipmentOperate various forest instruments such as skidders, bulldozers to pull scarification or site preparation equipment over forest areas to be regenerated.
Optional (15) — show
sustainable forest managementsustainable forest managementThe stewardship and use of forest lands in a way and at a rate that maintains their productivity, biodiversity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil now and in the future rele...read mapsread mapsRead maps effectively.advise on tree issuesadvise on tree issuesAdvise organisations or private individuals on planting, caring for, pruning or removing trees.work in a forestry teamwork in a forestry teamCollaborate with other forest workers in a team in service of forestry or forest related operations.use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.lead a team in forestry serviceslead a team in forestry servicesDirect a forestry team or crew and guide them to the common goal of completing a variety of forestry related assignments and tasks.monitor forest productivitymonitor forest productivityMonitor and improve forest productivity by organising growing, timber harvesting, and health measures.advise client on technical possibilitiesadvise client on technical possibilitiesRecommend technical solutions, including systems, to the client within the framework of a project.advise supervisorsadvise supervisorsAdvise supervisor of problems, changes, or suggestions for more effective regulation practice or development activity.monitor driversmonitor driversEnsure that drivers meet the legal requirements to operate, arrive at work at required times, present no signs of alcohol or drug abuse, and follow the commissioned itineraries of the day. Monitor dri...monitor equipment conditionmonitor equipment conditionMonitor the correct functioning of gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.monitor workloadmonitor workloadMonitoring the overall workload of a production in order to keep it within legal and human limits.operate GPS systemsoperate GPS systemsUse GPS Systems.advise on timber harvestadvise on timber harvestProvide guidance on how to apply the most appropriate timber harvesting method: clearcut, shelterwood, seed tree, group selection or single-tree selection.report pollution incidentsreport pollution incidentsWhen an incident causes pollution, examine the extent of the damage and what the consequences could be and report it relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

forest worker6 shared essential skillsforestry adviser4 shared essential skillsarboriculturist3 shared essential skillsconservation scientist3 shared essential skillsforester3 shared essential skillsnatural resources consultant3 shared essential skillsaquaculture environmental analyst2 shared essential skillsecologist2 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a forestry technician do?

Forestry technicians assist and support the forest manager and implement their decisions. They supervise a team of forestry equipment operators and support and supervise forestry and environmental protection through research and data collection. They also manage resource conservation and harvesting plans.

What skills does a forestry technician need?

A forestry technician needs 22 essential skills, including environmental policy, ecosystem management, habitat restoration, fire-fighting systems, reforestation.

Will AI replace forestry technician jobs?

The AI disruption score for forestry technician is 17/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: operate GPS systems, monitor equipment condition, read maps. Most resilient: provide first aid, work in a forestry team, maintain forest roads.

AI Replacement Risk

17/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
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Quick Facts

SectorEngineering Services
ISCO GroupScience and engineering associate professionals
Essential Skills22

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