"Forestry isn’t rocket science. It’s much more complicated."
Professor Fred Bunnell, University of British Columbia

You Must be Registered to Practice Forestry in BC
British Columbia’s forests, forest lands and forest ecosystems are managed by a large team of Forest Professionals who are registered with the the ABCFP.

Ninety-five percent of the forests in BC are publicly owned and by law (the Foresters Act) these forests must be managed by a Forest Professional registered with the ABCFP. All Forest Professionals are bound by a Code of Ethics and required to practice good forest stewardship.

What Do Forest Professionals Do?
There are more than 600 different career options. Many Forest Professionals work in forest inventory (measuring and surveying), forest engineering (road design and layout), forest operations (harvesting), silviculture (growing and tending trees), ecology, wildlife and fisheries, recreation and landscape design, hydrology (study of water), pedology (study of soils), entomology (study of insects), pathology (study of diseases), mapping, planning, economics, research, teaching, administration, management and policy development.

Career Options
Two main types of Forest Professionals work here: Registered Professional Foresters and Registered Forest Technologists. Special Practice Permits are also available.

Registered Professional Foresters
Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) play a lead role on the forestry team. They prepare short and long-term plans for managing forest resources and make sure all forestry activities comply with government and industry regulations. [more]

Registered Forest Technologists
Registered Forest Technologists (RFTs) are also important members of the forestry team. They specialize in on-the-ground fieldwork and perform technical forestry functions in areas such as silviculture, forest protection, forest operations and forest measurements. [more]

Special Practice Permits
We offer three types of special permits to engage in the practice of professional forestry in BC on a temporary basis: (1) special permits for Visiting Professional Foresters; (2) permits for Transferring Professional Foresters; and (3) Limited Licences to practise. [more]

Additional Resources
Choose a Career in Forestry
Launch your Career in Forestry
How to Apply: Routes of Entry
Practising in BC: Associate Members
Practising in BC: Enrolled Members
Practising in BC: Registered Members
Practising in BC: Special Permit Holders

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