21111 Forestry professionals

What this occupation covers

Forestry professionals conduct research, develop plans and administer and direct programs related to the management and harvesting of forest resources. They are employed by the forest industry, provincial and federal governments, consulting companies, educational institutions and other industries, or they may be self-employed.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 10 main duties for this code.

• Plan and direct forest surveys and related studies and prepare reports and recommendations
• Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources
• Plan and direct woodlands harvesting, reforestation, silviculture and fire prevention and fire suppression programs, road building, wildlife management, environmental protection and insect and vegetation control programs
• Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands
• Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities
• Ensure adherence to government regulations and company objectives
• Plan and conduct public relations programs, and education and extension programs related to forestry
• Develop and oversee programs for tree seedling production and woodlands nursery operations
• Conduct advanced research in the areas of tree improvement, nursery seedling production, forest soils, forest ecology, forest mensuration, forest operations and other areas
• Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, municipal, provincial or federal governments or to companies.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 10 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 41401 Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
• 80010 Managers in natural resources production and fishing
• 40011 Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration
• 20011 Architecture and science managers

Excluded from this code

• Forest economist (See 41401 Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts)
• Forestry operations manager (See 80010 Managers in natural resources production and fishing)
• Forestry policy director - government services (See 40011 Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration)
• Forestry programs manager - government services (See 40011 Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration)
• Research director - forestry (See 20011 Architecture and science managers)
• Woodlands manager (See 80010 Managers in natural resources production and fishing)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

appraisal forester · consulting forester · Crown lands forester · district forester · extension forester · forest engineer · forest nursery forester · forester · industrial forester · operations forester · parks and recreation forester · private lands forester · professional forester · project forester · regional forest inventory officer · regional inventory officer - forestry · registered professional forester (RPF) · research forester · superintendent - forestry · unit forester · urban forester

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in forestry or forestry engineering is required.
• Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces except Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
• A two-year practicum of supervised work experience and professional examinations are usually required before registration.