Forest and Natural Areas Management British Columbia Institute of Technology

Overview

The Forest and Natural Areas Management program from British Columbia Institute of Technology gives you a strong foundation in ecology, earth sciences, mapping, surveying & measurements. You will learn skills and training in silviculture, forest inventory, forest engineering, fire & forest health management, and urban forestry. Our programs unique focus natural areas in urban & interface environments provide you with skills in the management of trees, invasive species & soil resources. The breadth of technical and field-based skills you acquire also relevant to many other natural resource sectors.

Career

Career opportunities for resource technologists are excellent and projected to remain strong. The program will prepare you for a wide variety of employment opportunities; whether you are interested in working outdoors, indoors or a combination of both.

Graduates work for the municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments, the environmental consulting sector, and various natural resource industry sectors. You will also have your choice of working full time or on a seasonal basis. Working as a natural resource field technologist, you can work anywhere in BC or beyond, and be paid to explore nature by hiking, driving 4x4s and ATVs, boating, or flying in planes and helicopters. Alternatively, you may work as a natural area technologist in a city if a more urban setting is your preference. This new emerging field of “Urban Forestry” includes:

• Invasive species management
• Arboriculture
• Urban interface management

In addition, graduates will be qualified to work in areas of the traditional forestry sector which include:

• Forest Measurements and Inventory
• Forest Protection and Forest Health
• Forest Engineering
• Silviculture