Lacey Rose

Every day is different in my job. I’m in the woods about half the time, completing a variety of tasks. Some days I will be collecting data to help make decisions about the management of the forest. Other days I’m looking for wildlife and other values to make sure they are protected. I select trees for harvest and mark them with paint. I also monitor the harvest operations and plan activities that will renew the future forest, like tree planting. When I’m working indoors, I am analyzing the data collected to make decisions about the sustainable management of the County’s forests, both for the long and short term. We look a long way into the future in forestry, to make sure that all future generations will be able to get the same benefits from the forest that we do.

Forestry is heavily science-based. All the decisions we make are based on science. Some examples are: how different tree species should be managed for the best growth, how different species of wildlife need to be protected, and how forests and landscapes change over time. There is a lot of problem solving involved. There is a great social side to this work. People have a strong connection to forests and, as a forester, you must effectively communicate how you are working in the best interest of the forest and the public.

It’s also important to note that Registered Professional Foresters are a regulated profession, the same as a doctor or a lawyer. We are held accountable for our actions. We follow a code of ethics and standards of practice when looking after forests.