Forestry Technician

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Forestry Technician. A Forestry Technician provides technical inputs into forestry operational plans, the management and implementation thereof, collection of data, monitoring, analysing and managing operational team performance in support of sustainable forest management. Typical graduate attributes for the qualifying learner are the following: passionate, dynamic, positive, innovative, respectful, assertive, punctual, self-disciplined, transparent, team and performance driven, innovative, accommodating, patient, perceptive and motivated. A qualified learner will be able to: • Provide input into technical plans to achieve operational objectives. • Manage teams for the implementation of operational plans. • Manage the efficient use of resources for the achievement of operational objectives. • Monitor and evaluate performance against forestry standards, collect and analyse data and implement corrective actions. • Manage production and productivity, compile and maintain reports in line with operational objectives.

In the forestry industry, there is a need for career development from a Production or Operations Supervisor (Forestry) and Forestry Production and Operations Foreman occupations into a Forestry Technician (Forestry) position. This qualification will bolster the practical acumen of Foresters to adequately and effectively manage technical forestry operations. This qualification will benefit individuals in rural communities giving them the opportunity for upskilling. Furthermore, there is another opportunity for rural communities to enter the field of natural resource management of which forestry is a component. The range of typical learners will consist of unemployed youth, forestry foreman, prospective foresters and qualified foresters who want to increase their practical experience in forestry. Foresters without a qualification can be given an opportunity to obtain a formal occupational qualification following the Recognition of Prior Learning route. The completion of this qualification will contribute to career pathing possibilities and increase the available talent pool. This qualification contributes to a learning pathway for a person to progress from Forestry Supervisor to Forestry Foreman and eventually to a Forestry Technician. The completion of this qualification will result in a Forestry Technician who is holistic, practically competent and technically orientated. By gaining practical and technical experience the learners will be able to contribute substantially to sustainable forest management and the achievement of operational objectives. The Forestry Technician qualification will give learners the confidence and enriched experience at a practical level to recognise and manage forestry technical operation challenges.

• Describe the elements and steps involved in the development of forestry plans.
• Explain and analyse the factors to consider managing a diverse team to achieve operational objectives.
• Explain and analyse the factors to consider managing forestry resources for effective and efficient utilisation.
• Demonstrate how to collect and analyse forest operational data and implement corrective action in case a deviation is detected.
• Illustrate how to effectively communicate production objectives.
• Infer an understanding of the impact the physical environment has on the 4M's and T (money, man, material, machinery and time) and operational risk profile.