Forest specialist

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work as a forest specialist at a company that purchases forest holdings for its investor clients. My role involves managing the entire forest acquisition process, from start to finish. My work includes keeping in touch with forest owners, conducting forest assessments, making offers, drafting sales deeds, and occasionally visiting the terrain. I also manage reporting and forest-related planning for clients living abroad.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

During general upper secondary school, I developed an interest in business studies and knew I wanted to pursue a university degree. However, the School of Business felt too general, whereas forest economy seemed more concrete. Additionally, the forest owned by my family sparked my interest in the sector, and I wanted to deepen my understanding of forestry. I have not regretted my decision for a moment.

Describe your typical working day or week.

I manage tasks related to forest acquisitions throughout the week. Usually, I do routine tasks on Mondays, planning the schedule for the week, and addressing the most pressing emails. On Tuesdays, we have a weekly staff meeting. In the afternoon, half an hour of office yoga provides a perfect counterbalance to computer work.

On Wednesdays, we typically meet in a smaller group to review a client project in more detail. For example, when working with a jointly owned forest – a forest area managed by multiple landowners – we assess potential new shareholders and the types of forest holdings they own. If needed, we also review the valuation calculations of forest holdings together. On Thursdays, I attend two team meetings where we review the week’s progress and divide tasks. Again, a short yoga session brings light to the morning. I usually work remotely on Fridays, focusing on tasks I can handle independently.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

I work both at the office and remotely. Sometimes, a furry visitor – either mine or a colleague’s – brings joy to the workday, as pets are welcome in our office. I always aim to start my workday at 8:00.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

Being a forest specialist requires strong social skills, precision, and analytical thinking.

What is the best thing about your profession?

The best part of my profession is the sense of community, as the forest sector is characterised by close-knit networks and friendly colleagues. I also find my work meaningful, as forests are becoming increasingly important. This inspires me to continuously develop and expand my expertise.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

In forest management, change is sometimes met with reluctance. This is not necessarily due to forestry professionals but rather to forest owners, who are, on average, over 60 years old. Older generations may have established ways of managing their forests and are not always open to new methods. Nevertheless, it is crucial for forest management to prepare for and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a forest specialist?

I recommend forestry studies to anyone interested in working in the natural resources sector. Universities provide programmes in forest economics and forest ecology, with the latter offering several specialisation options. Forest engineer education is offered by universities of applied sciences and focuses on a more practical approach compared to university studies.

There are diverse career opportunities in the forestry sector. You can work as a researcher, analyst, operations manager, account manager, manager, or marketing specialist.

How do you see the future of your profession?

Although forestry is facing challenges, such as increasing forest damage, the importance of forests is likely to grow as fossil fuels are progressively replaced by renewable raw materials. Innovations are continuously developed both in wood processing and forest work. In the future, it will be crucial to strike a balance between preserving forest biodiversity and reaping economic benefits.