8422- Silviculture and forestry workers

Canada NOC: 
8422
Job Title: 

Silviculture and forestry workers

Job Description: 

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.

Main Duties: 

Silviculture and forestry workers perform 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 Inormation: 

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.

Classified Elsewhere: 

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)

Similar O*NET Careers (USA) : 
International Careers(ISCO): 
Source Of Info: 

National Occupation Classification, (2011)

Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,

February 2012,

Catalogue no. 12-583-X