As part of its commitment to the next generation of forestry professionals, Forestry Australia has developed the Forest Fundamentals Online Learning Program, providing an introduction to foundational forestry-specific subjects. Source: Timberbiz
This new program is available on Forestry Australia’s website and is free and exclusive to members.
The program provides direct access to forestry expertise. Presenters include Associate Professor. Kevin Tolhurst, Dr Michelle Balasso, Professor Cristopher Brack, Dr Brian Turner, Associate Professor Leon Bren, and Megan Graham.
Forestry Fundamentals features more than 35 videos as well as additional resource guides on themes such as forest values, active management, forest monitoring and evaluation, and social values of forestry.
Forestry Australia CEO Jacquie Martin said that over the past two years Forestry Australia has consulted with employers and several senior foresters on this initiative.
“Since 2021 the sector has told us that there is a notable knowledge gap within the Australian forest sector,” Ms Martin said.
“Forest growers are recruiting graduates with environmental science or agriculture qualifications, who are well-qualified in their field, but may be looking for additional forestry knowledge and insights.
“The program is part of a key strategic initiative to improve access to forestry experts and continues to build on Forestry Australia’s value proposition.”
In response to this feedback, Forestry Australia supported by the DAFF Leadership Grant developed this program to:
- Provide forestry-specific information targeting recent graduates and new entrants to the forestry sector.
- Assist companies when introducing new forestry concepts to staff or with onboarding of new staff.
- Build the sector’s capacity with practical forestry knowledge, targeting subjects that are not easily or currently available.
- Capture and make available the extensive knowledge of Forestry Australia members and subject matter experts.
- Create an easily and conveniently accessible suite of resources.
The Future Foresters Initiative Committee reviewed the videos and provided the following feedback:
- A great range of topics that will be helpful introductions to forestry graduates and as a review for more experienced people.
- Videos are a great insight for those who just discovered forestry.
- I think the complexity of the information presented really demonstrates the vast array of forest values and how they must be considered.
- Excellent list for additional reading.
The subjects include:
Forest values
- Supply Chain: Plantations, Dr Mihai Neagoe
- Supply Chain: Native forest, Patrick Groenhout
- Forest valuation methodology, Keith Lamb
- Valuing forests for carbon & other non-wood values, Prof. Cristopher Brack
- Managing forest values, Mark Annandale
Active management
- Plantations (silviculture), Braden Jenkin
- Active management for plantations, Dr Michelle Balasso
- Active management of native forests, Mike Ryan
- Harvesting to protect the environment, Gary Featherston
- Role of fire & fire behaviour, Assoc. Prof. Kevin Tolhurst
- Active management of wood production, Dr Michelle Balasso
- Water quality monitoring and management, Assoc. Prof. Leon Bren
- Silviculture for smaller producers, Braden Jenkin
- Managing urban and native forests, Prof. Cristopher Brack
- Forest certification, Gary Featherston
- Forest engineering principles & management, Braden Jenkin
Forest minoring & evaluation
- Forest biometrics & statistics. Dr Michelle Balasso
- Basic science of measurement, Dr Brian Turner
- Resource modelling, Dr Brian Turner
- Tree measurements & inventories, Dr Brian Turner
- Remote sensing & GPS, Dr Brian Turner
- Financial, budgeting and contract management, Braden Jenkin
Social value of forestry
- Community engagement, Megan Graham
- Commercial forestry in a community setting, Mark Annandale
Policy, leadership, research and analysis
- Forest policy, framework & governance, Prof. Peter Kanowski
- Business management & investment analysis, Braden Jenkin
- Research; Dr Michelle Balasso
More information can be found here at www.forestry.org.au/forest-fundamentals-online-learning-program/
