Why California’s Forestry Workforce is Critical to the Future of our Forests

By Elizabeth Berger

Forestry professionals are at the frontlines of California’s battle against the wildfire emergency in the West. 

Our forestlands play a vital role in sequestering carbon, maintaining biodiversity, and providing critical ecosystem services like clean air and water. However, they are increasingly threatened by wildfires, drought, insects and disease—all of which are exacerbated by a changing climate. To combat these threats, we need a robust and well-trained forestry workforce with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage our forests sustainably.

The forestry workforce is critical in wildfire prevention and mitigation. With California experiencing record-breaking wildfire seasons in recent years, there has never been a more urgent need for skilled forestry professionals to confront this emergency. These individuals work tirelessly to develop fire management plans, maintain road networks, and implement hazardous fuels reduction strategies that help prevent wildfires from becoming large-scale catastrophes. Their work is essential to protecting not only our forests from wildfire risk but also the people and communities that surround them.

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