Forestry as a Career

Elainew

What are the prospects in Forestry? I am considering the Forestry management degree in Waterford institute of Technology but dont fancy the idea of spending 3 yrs at somethin with no job prospects!
So whats the outlook
Can one expect employment?
Any information anyone can give me is welcome
Thanks

The_Conductor

I did the degree in forestry at UCD, and am now in the Crops Policy Section in the Department of Agriculture. Several of my classmates are in the Department too- but from my class of 9 people 1 is now a manager of shoeshop, 1 is an estate agent in Portlaoise, one is a primary school teacher, one works for an environmental group in Wicklow and one emigrated to Australia- so only about 1/2 my classmates are still in the general Forestry/Agriculture arena.

Employment prospects have improved for those with forestry qualifications- particularly in the private sector, but Teagasc and some of the other agencies do have a number of Forestry advisors on contract for specific projects too.

Oldtree

Have you thought about arboriculture (Merrist Wood College, Guildford, Surrey, UK)? plenty of prospects in the UK with their tree laws and the possibility of future reform here too.
You could start with a one year cert in arb which would make you a qualified tree surgeon, or 2 years for a diploma to become an arborist and do council work. There is further educational potential including forestry. this would keep your options more open and keep you fitter too.

Fanny Cradock

I meant to reply to this thread ages ago...

Like smccarrick, I recently completed the UCD Forestry course. I found it a rewarding and engaging four years. It is a very small department with low class numbers (I guess an average of 9 per year), but there in lies it strength.

I've lost contact with a number of my class mates, but last I heard (out of 9) there were only a few working directly in forestry. Unfortunately, I have not been so lucky... yet! However, the degree is well respected and, as it covers a huge range of topics relevant to other industries, it will never go to waste should you not end up in Forestry.

If you want any more info I can give you some details via PM. It would be of real help to you to talk to people in UCD (there are other Forestry degrees but UCD offers the only Honours degree) about the course, what Forestry actually entails in this country, job prospects etc. Please feel free to contact me if you want any info.

CathyMoran

As Smccarricks wife I got to know a lot of the forrestry students - very few of them ended up in forestry (one of them ended up doing a grad Dip in IT and Business and emigrated to Greece!) - from an outsiders point of view though the course was excellent, my husband did a lot of statistics which has greatly helped him in his future career.

road_high

I did Ag in UCD and then a Masters and am very friendly with one of the Forestry class; he's doing well working for a private planner. So much depends on the individual and their own drive and determination to succeed.
I would say Ag/ Forestry degrees are about average in terms of employment prospects, behind the likes of Medical, Engineering degrees but probably on a par with Business/Commerce and ahead of Arts, Science in terms of employment attainment. While many people don't end up working in the degree field this is common in every field where people find different niches and oppurtunities.
I would hazard a guess and say many people who graduated in Medicine don't actually end up in that field a few years down the road..
Best of luck with their choice either way;)