8422 – Silviculture and forestry workers

Silviculture and forestry workers perform a variety of duties related to reforestation and to the management, improvement and conservation of forest lands. They are employed by logging companies, contractors and government services.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Brush cutter – forestry

Clearing saw operator – forestry

Fire crewman/woman – forestry

Fire lookout

Fire suppression crewman/woman – forestry

Forest firefighter

Forestry conservation worker

Forestry crew worker

Forestry crewman/woman

Forestry worker

Forestry worker – logging

Lookout – forestry

Pieceworker – silviculture

Precommercial tree thinner

Scarification equipment operator

Scarification equipment operator – forestry

Scarifier operator – silviculture

Seed cone collector

Seed cone picker

Silviculture worker

Spacing saw operator

Spacing saw operator – forestry

Thinning saw operator

Thinning saw operator – forestry

Tree pruner – forestry

Tree spacer – forestry

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Assess site, select seedlings and plant trees using manual planting tools in reforestation areas

Operate power thinning saw to thin and space trees in reforestation areas

Operate chain saw to thin young forest stands

Control weeds and undergrowth in regenerating forest stands using manual tools and chemicals

Complete firefighting reports and maintain firefighting equipment

Dig trenches, cut trees, pump water on burning areas to fight forest fires under direction of fire suppression officer or forestry technician

Operate and maintain a skidder, bulldozer or other prime mover to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated

Perform other silviculture duties such as collecting seed cones, pruning trees, assisting in planting surveys and marking trees for subsequent operations.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school may be required.

Completion of a college or other specialized program for silviculture workers or forestry crew workers may be required.

Formal training in power saw operation and maintenance and several months of on-the-job training are usually provided.

Experience as a logging and forestry labourer may be required.

A chemicals application licence is required.

Workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) and transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) certificates may be required.

A silvicultural worker’s licence may be required.

Additional information

There is some mobility among jobs in this unit group.

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Progression to forestry technician or technologist is possible with additional education and training.

Exclusions

Arborists (in 2225 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists)

Chain saw and skidder operators (8421)

Forest nursery workers (in 8432 Nursery and greenhouse workers)

Forestry professionals (2122)

Forestry technologists and technicians (2223)

Logging and forestry labourers (8616)

Supervisors, logging and forestry (8211)