The use of technology and engineering brings products from the woods to modern society. These two areas of knowledge are essential to reconnect resources with the people who use them. Furthermore, the vision of eco-management and sustainable forestry has become possible. Today, a growing variety of sophisticated equipment and instruments are used to acquire forestry products while protecting other valuable assets of the woods such as soil, water, habitat, wild animals, and many more.

Job Description

These highly specialized engineers are responsible for designing roads and bridges to get the raw products from the woods to the mill in a convenient manner. They are also responsible for minimizing the impact on the habitat as a whole during tree harvesting operations. There are many engineers who design equipment to help accomplish this job safely and productively, machinery that is both cost-effective and environmentally sensitive. Now that these very sophisticated machines are being used, competent operators and designers are needed to manage this equipment as well as other computerized instruments.

Career Path

It is not easy to become this type of woodlands architect. It requires a serious commitment to attain such a position. It involves taking both engineering and management courses. These courses are useful and necessary to carry out technical activities. Management skills are needed mostly to preserve and protect the forest.

It is also important to participate in seminars and other accelerated courses that enhance knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics and other areas. Most of these classes are very useful in gaining knowledge about various life cycles of different tree species and the contribution of these trees to human progress and development.

A state civil service examination is a requirement to qualify for this position. In most states, this test is conducted every six months to a year so that engineers are able to stay current with their qualifications. Depending on the position for which an application is being made, a specific exam is given for each position and usually includes questions that cover the state forestry policies.

There are also other privately owned corporations in need of this type of forestry manager. Large companies are employing the services of these specialized engineers in areas such as the development of roads, best practices with used forestry equipment, and lumber logistics needs. There are also quite a few companies that are challenging engineers to look for and find new ways for the sustainability of trees in the future – as most companies still use the century-old process of applying the green harvesting practice of planting one new tree to replace every cut tree.

Building Roads and Sustainable Forests

Forest roads are very important and the work of forest engineers is one of the huge contributors to progress in this area. These roads have brought many benefits such as management of the woods; timber harvesting and transportation; and easy access in case of fires. Although the main purpose for building these roads was for timber logistics, these roads later became multi-purpose.

In the past, many problems were associated with road building such as stream sedimentation and soil erosion; now these problems are being prevented. Through engineering, the construction of these roads has been minimized. This has been accomplished through the construction and use of alternative ways for logistics, such as skyline cable logging systems and even through the use of helicopters to transport harvested timbers over longer distances.

These highly specialized designers and managers play a big role in sustainable resources that can provide benefits not only to the human race but also to other living things that inhabit our planet. By becoming an engineer in this industry, someone who chooses this profession as their career can help reshape the planet Earth for all of its future inhabitants!