Forest Engineers
Job description
These individuals provide advice, monitor, carry out, or direct work related to the exploitation of forest resources. Their work focuses on the management, development, protection, and conservation of forest resources. They design forest management plans and silvicultural prescriptions. They use technological tools (digital field notebook, GPS, digital mapping, etc.) to assess forest depths and areas. They are self-employed or work for:
- Private companies
- Forestry cooperatives
- Forest engineering firms
- The federal and provincial governments
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
Main tasks
- Carry out inventories of territorial resources (wildlife, recreational, and forestry).
- Survey forest stands.
- Inventory insects and diseases that affect trees.
- Map the resources and sensitive elements of the territory (lakes, riparian strips, resort areas, native sites, trapping areas, etc.).
- Plan and locate logging roads for access and perform harvest volume calculations.
- Identify the potential for various land uses and consult all land users to develop plans for harmonizing land uses on the territory.
- Work in the research, teaching, and consulting sector.
- Plan and direct programs for forest harvesting, reforestation, silviculture, forest fire prevention and control, insect and disease outbreaks, road construction, and environmental protection.
- Establish production schedules, work methods, and labour requirements.
- Prepare cost estimates, specifications, and budgets, and supervise and coordinate the work.
- Ensure compliance with environmental regulations, occupational health and safety regulations, and the application of the Labour Code.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to senior, supervisory, and management positions.
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Agricultural and forest engineering
Forest engineering, forestry or wood science
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 58.3%
35.4% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 72.7%
18.2% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Membership in the Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec (OIFQ [Quebec Order of Forest Engineers]).
- Successful completion of a 32-week professional training period for membership in the OIFQ.
- Successful completion of a training program on ethics, professional conduct, and standards of professional practice.
Sometimes required
- Proficiency with specialized geomatics software may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Reading comprehension
- Result evaluation
- Oral expression
- Critical thought
- Judgment and decision-making
- Information processing
- Coordination
- Time management
- Solving complex problems
- Active listening
- System analysis
- Written expression
- Human resource management
- Social perception
- Negotiation
- Teaching
- Monitoring operations
- Active learning
- Operations and control
- Mathematics
- Service oriented
- Persuasion
Abilities
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Deductive reasoning
- Written expression
- Awareness of issues
- Inductive reasoning
- Classification
- Speech recognition
- Speech clarity
- Information organization
- Near vision
- Originality
- Processing flexibility
- Core strength
- Distance vision
- Selective attention
- Control accuracy
- Idea generation
Knowledge and attributes
- Knowledge of personnel and human resource management
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to influence and mobilize
- Capacity to adapt
- Capacity to work in a team
- Versatility
- Rigour
- Sense of initiative
- Knowledge of engineering and technology
- Commitment to quality
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work in an office
- Carry out research
- Develop and exploit natural resources
- Work in contact with nature and animals
- Work outdoors
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Forestry professionals (CNP 21111)
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026