Professionals working arboriculture forestry jobs are known as arboriculturists and they are responsible for managing trees and shrubs. They may supervise tree planting projects and inspect trees for disease.
There are two routes to becoming an arboriculturist: with a relevant qualification or through employment in an arboricultural worker role. Relevant qualifications for prospective arboriculturists include degrees, foundation degrees and HNC/HNDs in arboriculture and the Royal Forestry Society’s Certificate in Arboriculture.
Forestry Soft Skills
In additional to formal qualifications and experience of working in an arboriculturist job, it is necessary to have good management planning, a head for heights, an understanding of construction techniques, and good report writing skills.
Arboriculturists may work for the government, forest management companies, landowners, and organisations such as the Forestry Commission. Employment opportunities may be advertised in the press, through specialist arboriculture recruitment agencies or in sector publications, such as the Arboricultural Associations newsletter.
Salary Information
The starting salary for a newly appointed arboriculturist may be around £16,000 a year. Promotion opportunities for experienced arboriculturists may include taking on senior arboriculturist or staff management roles. Arboriculturists may go on to work as registered private consultants, in which case they will require professional membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.