I've been feeling this way for a while now and wondering if anyone else in the field feels the same way so thought I'd post it here. I've been a forester in public and private positions up and down the west coast for about 10 years, now in my 30's. Started inventory, lay out and moved into silv, now working entirely dealing with pre and post wildfire at WA DNR.

The coming challenge is enormous. I feel for you all in OR, CA, BC, and the rest of the west where fires are consuming all our forests and rangelands. Looking at black trees all day is not good for the heart. We're lucky in WA in a way that the worst of the climate and wildfire impacts haven't reached us yet. Our fire sizes are still relatively small (I am not saying this isn't affecting people's lives, I know it does) and severities are mixed mostly. But the response from our state and feds is so incredibly poor.

All the lip service to history of fire suppression and the need for fuel reduction but there is no real effort to reverse these trends. It starts with money of course, but then we need changes to the laws to allow prescribed burning like changes to clean air restrictions and liability insurance for burn bosses. We need changes to the market (or increased subsidies) for our small diameter trees and less desirable species. The FS is completely hamstrung by outdated management plans and laws restricting upper diameter limits among other things. TIMOS and REITs dominate the rest of our gated forests and can't manage past next quarters return. Things will burn and they'll plant it all back the same way. And the small push to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge into our management (more lip service of course). Asking Native Americans to do the things they were brutally punished for doing 100 or more years ago is just embarrassing.

And I thought there was a housing crisis? Where are the subsidies for our logs? Why do people in Iowa get paid to grow corn but our forest owners don't? And then you see articles from people decrying the Canadian lumber market. Yes, trade is unfair, because they actually care about their market. You would think with all the lobbying those wood products groups do things would look different.

Coworkers and consultants seem to continue on like everything is going according to plan. We all have to keep stiff upper lips and do our best to manage our forests. Sorry, this is a long read but god dam it feels so miserable.

We just happened to come into our dream property and it had one on it. It operated as one of the largest collections of diverse and rare conifers in the world for 30 years. Those folks retired and sold it to someone who let the property go after a bad accident for the last 5 years. We are hoping to pick up where the old folks left off but we literally know nothing about trees and I am struggling with where to even start?!

So I came into the FS a few back. As a gay male, I’m just kinda wondering where’s my people at? I just have not come in contact with any other gay people. My work mates are nice and all but sometimes you just want to interconnect with people who are like you.

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Hey everyone,

I’ve been seriously considering taking the BCFTS course to become a certified faller in BC, but before I commit the time and money, I’m hoping to get some honest input from people who are actually working in the forestry industry.

My biggest concern is the current state of the BC forestry industry. With mills shutting down, logging operations slowing down, and the uncertainty surrounding the industry, I’m worried about spending the money to get certified only to find out there isn’t much work available, especially for someone with no experience.

I understand that falling is a demanding and potentially dangerous job, and I’m prepared to put in the work and learn. I’m not expecting to walk straight into a high-paying job, but I do want to know if there’s a realistic opportunity to build a career and find steady work.

For those of you working as fallers, contractors, or in other areas of BC forestry, I’d really appreciate your honest opinions.

A few questions I have:

Is there still decent demand for certified fallers in BC?

How difficult is it to get your foot in the door with no experience?

Are companies willing to hire newly certified fallers?

Is it realistic to find relatively steady work, or is it mostly seasonal and dependent on contracts?

Knowing what you know now, would you recommend getting into falling in 2026?

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience or advice.

So from what I understand the US accuses Canada of dumping but Canada says it just has a different system of land ownership and stumpage. Why has this dispute been unable to be settled? Doesn't the softwood duties just make lumber more expensive for the average American? How does that benefit anyone? Thanks

Has anyone tried the Georgia forestry loggers? Can someone give feedback or review them? I’m thinking about trying them so I can break them in now for next fire season.

Hey all, I'm starting a seasonal field position with the Forest Service this December in the Cascades. It'll be mostly off-trail hiking through thick brush, carrying a loaded pack, 4–5 days a week, in whatever weather shows up (so, a lot of rain).

For those of you who've done fieldwork in the PNW, I'd love your take on a few things:

**Boots:** What do you actually wear? Is anyone doing trail runners, or is it leather boots all the way? Any brands you swear by or regret? Does FS typically have the boot rebate?

**Rain gear:** I’m kinda new to the PNW and I’ve never even had a rain coat before (originally from the southwest). What do people use for field work around here? What is the layering like?

**Pants:** Do you usually wear a shell over your pants? Should I be looking for waterproof stuff here? Or do you do canvas stuff?

**Gloves and socks:** How many pairs do you rotate through in a week? Wool?

**Anything else** you wish you'd known before your first season, like a boot dryer, a dry bag system, or a change of clothes in the rig?

I'm also curious what typically gets issued versus what you buy yourself, and whether pro deals are available/worth signing up for.

Thanks in advance!

Yes I know its like 5 inch diameter maybe and like 15 feet tall and theres no wood there, but I did it. No a 10 inch bar on an electric chainsaw is not acceptable for what i would call a saw, Im just using what I got😭

The general industry outlook is pretty negative. Is that happening everywhere? What regions, or segments of the industry, are thriving?

For example, I've heard that some outfits harvesting high grade walnut in the Midwest are doing exceptionally well right now. I've also heard of some small operators doing very well selling firewood in New England.

I have an interview for a forestry job coming up and was wondering what types of questions should I expect? My B.S is in Environmental Science and I spent the last 4 years in the military. Is it generally normal interview questions or are there any forestry specific things I should become familiar with prior to? We had many forestry related classes within my major but I did not have all of the forester specific courses so I feel unprepared.

Hello yall, i’m 23, currently working for the district of north van, making pretty good money, looking to get into the arborist industry, wanting to do tree climbing. signed up to do some bcplanthealthcare courses this coming year, already have a chainsaw certification. i’m just looking for some general advice on getting into the industry, potential companies to work for, different job recommendations, and am open to moving around the world. really keen:)

Does anyone hear work, or used to work at ArborPro. I have a okay job right now but could use extra money. Amd I see that they are hiring.

Did a little hazard management job this week. Turned out pretty nice and the wood was good. made 2 loads of logs out of about 20 trees.

May not have the consistent schedule and benefits of regular employment but I have a lot more fun as a gyppo logging forester than I ever did punching a clock.

ive been working on an app the past few months which i feel fills a gap in regards to mapping, tracking, jobs ect. but all in sync in one place via phone, desktop or online.

im looking for as many people within the industry to test it for me if you message me i can send a promo code for the app for free in return for feedback.

android only at the moment.

apologies if not allowed.

Hey!! I once witnessed the northern lights in person, and it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life. I was so fascinated by the atmosphere, the colors, and the way the lights illuminated the trees that I decided to recreate that feeling in my own video game!

I'm a solo developer working on Over Human, a first-person sci-fi adventure set in a snowy world where advanced drones have taken control of the environment and can manipulate the weather (and you have no weapons to fight back!).

I wanted the forests to feel as atmospheric and immersive as possible, and the northern lights were one of my biggest inspirations!

Here's the result! What do you think? :)

If you're curious about my game, here's the Steam page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/5237810/Over_Human/

Francesco

Recently qualified with my crosscut & maintenance and felling up to 380mm. I'm looking to purchase my first saw. Unlikely to progress onto larger felling quals in the near future or aerial work, this season will mostly be removal and treatment of rhododendron ponticum and felling of non-native conifers up to 380mm.

Trained with a Husqvarna 550 XP G mark II on a 15" bar. The saw handled well and I wouldn't mind an equivalent. Would this be a good bet with a selection of smaller bar sizes for handling the tight and awkward stems (perhaps 10, 13 and 15" bars), or should I downsize the saw? Ideally need something that will handle both rhody and felling small trees. Wary of higher risk of kickback in amongst.

Based in Scotland and have a decent local Stihl & Husqy provider. If anyone knows of a comprehensive second-hand maintenance kit let me know. Will take any and all advice. Thanks team.

When I was a child, wasps chewed through the drywall in my room and made themselves at home. While sleeping in the bedroom next door, one stung me in the middle of the night. That was only the beginning of my unfortunate fear.

My time as a wildland firefighter further proved to me that these bugs are straight evil and came from hell just to torment me. My coworkers and I, on one particular fire, would step into multiple yellow jacket ground nests for 14 straight days. Even got stung on the eyelid one time. It was like scenes straight from a horror movie. Stepping into one, realizing your fuck up, dropping everything, and promptly running through the woods screaming like a banshee.

Then things were quiet. No accidental run ins. No stings. Nothing. Until I became a forestry tech.

I swear to god, every god damn gate I stick my hand into has yellow jackets. I double and triple check before I stick my hand into to unlock the gate, even while wielding my small but mighty weapon: bee spray. And somehow they always get me. Ground nests? I find every one of them.

Today for example, I checked the gate. Didn’t see anything. Unlocked it with ease. Got to my unit and was having a very pleasant day until I looked down at one point and saw how close my boot was to a gaping hole in the ground with yellow jackets angrily guarding the entrance. On my way out, using the same gate, there was exactly one fucker who was waiting to hurt me. And hurt me she did.

It’s like they smell my fear and are out to crush my soul and spirit. I am doomed to a fate of meeting my enemy on the battlefield and losing spectacularly.

Looking at a small oak/shortleaf pine stand in central AR that has quite a few (10-15 TPA) 10-20 inch Juniperus virginiana snags with nice form. The land owner is interested in pulling them out and using them around the property. It's a stand with a fair bit of mortality in it but no more redcedar mortality on the way.

My question is whether or not there is any reason to retain some of these snags over the already existing hard wood and pine snags. I can see them persisting longer on the landscape, i know insect can use the "wrinkles" around old lpwer branches, and i could see them being preferentiall y used as hunting perches by raptors.

A cursory search hasn't really turned up much to make me think i should retain them just one of those gut feelings of "hey this is novel habitat structure here that I might want to retain".

Thanks for the thoughts.