Identifying green jobs in the forestry sector, a UNECE/FAO/ILO

Team of Specialists initiative

Diarmuid McAree, Vice Chairman ToSForestry Consultant & Advisor

EFIMED 2016

What is a green forest job?

A green forest job …

• … complies with the principles of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)

• … contributes to the green economy,

• … and is involved in the value chain of forest products and/or in the performance of forest services.

• Nothing is more empowering than having a job

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Goals & tasks

• “Advise and support the secretariat on the implementation of the ECE/FAO Integrated Programme on employment-related issues such as jobs, required competence, education and training for the forestry sector in the context of the green economy”

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Goals

• The general goal of the ToS activities is “to identify and list the existing and especially potential new green jobs in the forestry sector”

• We welcome the assistance and co-operation of EFIMED in identifying green forest jobs in the Mediterranean Region

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Green forest jobs and its context

Forestry

Health and

recreation

Education and

knowledge

transfer

Biodiversity and

forest protection

Regional &

landuse

development

Wood and energy

production

Social and urban

development

Calabria, November 2016

Existingjobs

New jobs

6 thematic areas

EFIMED 2016

Example / Field of activity Forest Protection & Contingency Planning

Forest fire control

Global warming/climate change is creating major challenges

Forest contingency planners need to think global and will develop and implement new insect & disease management strategies.

Thematic area: Biodiversity & Forest Protection

Forest protection and contingency

planning

Skills, Expertise and Green Forest

Professions

Forest fire control

specialists

Forest pathologists and

entomologists.

Specialists in laboratories

for analysis.

Specialists on forest

disease and insect

identification.

Specialist on surveying,

monitoring and control.

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Forest protection

• Pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) poses a major threat to Mediterranean forests. – Control measures against this

dangerous pest and its insect vectors will provide new green jobs in the forest protection sector

• The Asian longhorn beetle (ALB) [Anoplophora glabripennis] poses a similar threat and opportunity for job creation

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Example / Field of activity: Mycoforestry

The forest mycelium is a biomolecular superhighway.

(communicating with its environment)

In the US – Armillaria solidipes covers more than 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) and is 1,000s of years old.

(it is one of the largest single organisms)

Working with mycorrhizal fungi in forests opens up different fields such as mycoremediation and biological control by utilising mycorrhizal benefits and interactions

Thematic area: Biodiversity & Forest Protection

Myco-forestry

Skills, Expertise and GreenForest Professions

Mycology researchers.

Specialists in mycology

laboratory diagnostics.

Forest mycologists,

specialists in fungal

taxonomy.

Specialists in Myco-

remediation and biological

control.

Managers of fungal forests.

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Example / field of activity Energy ProductionThematic area: Wood & Energy Production

Forest based fuels provide enough wood-based energy to heat 2 million homes in Sweden

In 2015, district heating satisfied about 60% of the heat demand in Swedish buildings. Today, more than two thirds of the heat supply to the district heating systems is based on biomass and waste, and biomass alone accounts for about half of the heat supply

A new integrated work perspective: excellent logistic abilities and negotiating skills will be required!

Energy production

Skills, Expertise and Green

Forest Professions

Forest energy producers

Specialist s in biomass

marketing and logistics

Experts in energy wood

procurement

Experts in trade and

communication

Forest entrepreneurs and

operators

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Example / Field of activity Forest Education

Forest education should be a hands-on exciting learning experience.

Forest certification training

Germany:

> 1,000 forest kindergardens

In excess of 300,000 people per annum take forest excursions in Bavaria

Forest educators need additional training on how to best transfer their knowledge and on how to improve their communication skills.

Thematic area: Education & Knowledge Transfer

Education

Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions

Teachers in the forest

University lecturers, forest

instructors

Forest interpreters

Forest guided walk leaders

Nature study and outdoor

pursuits professionals

Carbon accounting

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Example / Field of activity Mountain Forestry

In excess of 130,000 buildings, 1,000‘s of

kilometres of roads & tracks are protected against

natural disasters by Swiss mountain forests

49% of Swiss forests are managed as protection

forests with special management restrictions

Risk management will be one of the main tasks for

mountain foresters: Risk analysis, valuation and

action planning.

Thematic area: Regional & Landuse Development

Mountain forestry

Skills, Expertise and GreenForest Professions

Mountain forestry

specialists

Specialists in the

management of natural

hazards

Soil bio-engineers

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Example / Field of activity Urban Forestry

The > 70,000 trees of Melbourne city are valued at $650 million.

This includes health, amenity and microclimate effects.

Abatement of air pollution, noise reduction, the creation of urban forests and neighbourwoods.

Urban foresters have to handle the special needs& demands of urban society as well as the specialneeds of urban trees associated with harsh and extreme growing conditions.

Thematic area: Social & Urban development

Urban forestry

Skills, Expertise and Green Forest

Professions

Urban foresters

Forest landscape gardeners

Urban forest planners /

Green urban Infrastructure

Managers

Multiple use forestry skills

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Example / Field of activity Recreation, leisure and sports

In 2013, 447 million day visits were made to forests

in the UK. This trend is increasing.

In excess of 650 forest recreation sites are

provided in Great Britain.

Working in this field, one is responsible for

balancing forest and visitor needs and engaging in

important public relations, information &

communications work.

Thematic area: Health & Recreation

Recreation, leisure and sports

Skills, Expertise and Green

Forest Professions

Recreation foresters

Forest rangers

Forest tourist guides

Outdoor pursuits & activity

organisers

Multiple-use forestry experts

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Example / Field of activity Forest Ecotherapy

Forests as an antidote to stress

> 44 accredited forest ecotherapeutic areas in Japan

(they are spreading all over the world)

Forest ecotherapists are promoting non-timber

forest health benefits by combining new forest

health research with a basic knowledge of medical

issues.

Thematic area: Health & Recreation

Forest ecotherapy

Skills, Expertise and Green

Forest Professions

Research and dissemination

of knowledge about forest

healing effects.

Forest ecotherapists

Medical doctors working in

forest therapy centres

Sports professionals, forest

health coaches

Forest educators and

guided walks leaders…

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

For discussion

• Major ongoing changes in society, the economy and technology lead not only to changes in the work perspective of green forest jobs but also offer excellent prospects for new or realigned job developments in this sector. To cater for and to be best prepared for such transformations there is a strong and urgent need to adapt and retrain the work force associated with forestry related jobs.

• 19 different fields of activity of future Green Forest Jobs show the great spectrum of jobs where forestry issues are tackled and which can be achieved with an adaptable and well trained forestry related workforce

• Forest jobs need to be more adaptable in future and will expand further with appropriate training and enhanced change management!

• We must embrace and practice the Triple A concept i.e. Adapt, Adjust and Amend

• We must create what should be rather than maintain what is.

Calabria, November 2016

EFIMED 2016

Thank you - Go raibh maith agaibh - Grazie

T: +353 87 255 1491 E: dtmcaree@hotmail.com

Calabria, November 2016