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Case Study

Name: Jeremy Allen
Position: Senior Forester Tactical Planner
Company: VicForests
Qualifications: Double Bachelor Degree in Forest Science and Science.
Age: 30

What are your responsibilities as the Senior Forester Tactical Planner?
I manage the availability of coupes (small timber growing areas within a larger forest) for timber harvesting through the delivery of a Timber Release Plan for the Central Highlands Region. I am also involved in coordinating field-based planning of state forests available for timber harvesting according to the regulatory bodies.
From an environmental perspective, I ensure planned coupes are in line with long-term sustainability objectives and VicForests’ customer supply commitments, and along the way engage with relevant State forest stakeholders and community groups during requests to approve or modify Timber Release Plans.

What is the most satisfying part of your job?
I have direct involvement in the future planning of sustainable timber harvesting and utilisation of resources from our State forests. Every day I’m involved in the key decisions made on where we decide to harvest, and protecting all the other forest values that we need to consider as part of forest management.
That’s very important to me - and a very rewarding part of my job.

Do you feel like you can make a positive difference in your role?
In my job I get to protect and manage the forests that we all rely on for camping, picnicking and other outdoor activities, as well as carbon storage and providing a habitat to all such a wide variety of wildlife and flora species.
We are also able to utilise this forest for a renewable resource that realistically is far superior to anything that’s man made in terms of concrete, steel and aluminium. The fact is that it’s renewable and we can harvest it in a way that’s sustainable for generations to come makes me feel like I’m making a positive difference.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?
In five years time I’d like to continue to be an influential part of sustainable forest management and timber harvesting in Victoria.
We do a really responsible job and we’re serving the community in a way that is often misunderstood, so in five years I’d like to be still promoting the positive aspects of native forest management in Victoria.

What kind of person would your role suit?
Anybody who is a lover of outdoors, and has a keen interest in the environment in general would suit this role. They don’t have to necessarily know much about trees or timber harvesting or wood products - you can learn that on the job. However if they have a keen interest in the environment and the management of forests then they would love working in forestry.
 
We spoke to Jeremy about his career and what he does day to day. We hope you find this useful and interesting – but please remember, that all jobs are not exactly the same and other roles with the same title may be different in many respects. Confirm all the details of a particular job with the organisation offering it.