What is a forest manager/forester?

Forest managers/foresters are responsible for managing a forest area as an economically viable enterprise or social community area with due regard for the protection of the forest environment.

Forest managers/foresters maintain and manage the balance between various issues associated with woodland areas, such as commercial interests, biodiversity, landscape and public access. The challenge for modern forestry is to establish a balance between competing economic and social demands for forest and land use. This challenge includes a change of emphasis towards multipurpose forests, regeneration of native woodlands and sustainable forest management.

Forest managers/foresters are sometimes called woodland managers.

Typical work activities

Tasks typically involve:

• advising clients on good forestry practice and providing a contract service to woodland owners, especially those interested in acquiring land for afforestation;
• advising woodland owners on planting design and species choice, budgeting, public access, ecological surveys, and forest certification;
• organising the growing, harvesting, marketing and sale of timber;
• planning and implementing annual work programmes and ensuring the effective use of resources to meet the current objectives of the forest area;
• supervising forest workers and contractors in the field, which may include negotiation with subcontracting companies;
• liaising with customers, landowners, timber merchants, the public and local authorities (this varies according to the specific post and the nature of the employer but, in general, is becoming a greater part of the role);
• liaising with and working on many projects with other professionals, such as landscape architects, archaeologists, biologists, geologists, chartered surveyors and engineers, and charitable bodies;
• attending meetings of professional bodies;
• keeping up to date with legal changes and other developments;
• working to and maintaining globally-recognised forest certification;
• planning and controlling budgets and preparing costing and financial forecasts;
• promoting the expansion of new woodland coverage and, where possible, the restoration of ancient woodland in the UK.

Forest managers/foresters are also involved in forest protection, which is a wide-ranging part of the role reflecting the government’s desire to promote sustainable forest management. This includes:

• conducting research in areas such as silviculture, pathology, tree improvement and entomology;
• monitoring existing forestry practices;
• protecting forests from illegal felling, pests and diseases;
• ensuring that the presence of forests does not affect the surrounding environment and wildlife by damaging wildlife habitats, water supplies or soil.