YOUR CAREER AS AN
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
Environmental managers look after the wider forest environment, and ensure that any valuable water resources, special habitats or other environmental features are protected and enhanced, especially during forest operations. The role could include:
- working with harvest planners to identify any special measures needed during harvesting operations
- monitoring environments such as water courses and native bush
- developing plans to protect and promote native flora and fauna
- preparing resource consent applications for forestry operations such as new planting or harvesting
- ensuring contractors are trained and have good systems in place to protect the environment
- ensuring there are no breaches of resource consent conditions
- working with local communities to involve them in environmental activities.
If a forestry company or its contractors is found to have breached resource management consent conditions, the environmental manager is likely to be the person called in to work with regional authorities, legal representatives and others to deal with the problems.
SNAPSHOT INFO
Earning Potential
$55,000-$140,000
Qualification Required
Degree or diploma
Physically Demanding
Mix of office and on-site work
Absence from home
Varies with employer
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
To become an environmental manager in forestry you will need either:
- a degree or diploma in forest science or forest management
- a degree in environmental science or similar.
Skills needed include a good understanding of forestry operations, knowledge of relevant legislation (especially the Resource Management Act and the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry), and knowledge of environmental values and monitoring techniques. Good communication and problem solving skills will be essential, especially when dealing with contractors, as well as good analysis, report writing and presentation skills.
The job will generally involve a mix of outdoor and office-based work, so you will need to be physically fit and enjoy being out in the forest.
SIMILAR JOBS
CAREER PROGRESSION
Environmental management is a specialist part of forest management. Environmental managers are likely to be able to move to other management roles within forest companies, or move into specialist environmental consultancy roles.