Forestry is the science and art of sustainably managing forest ecosystems for specific objectives. It is often thought of as growing, harvesting, and transforming trees for the manufacture of industrial wood products. It is certainly this, but it is also much more. The specific objectives for which forests are managed are related to the economic, environmental, social and cultural values we give them. Management usually involves a combination of the three values. economic - producing economic goods and services from forests: pulp, paper, newsprint, lumber, wood-based panels, furniture, poles environmental - maintaining and enhancing the services of the forest ecosystems: regulate the climate, conserve biodiversity, supply fresh water, conserve the soil, manage habitat for wildlife social and cultural - managing for society's diverse values of forested lands: outdoor recreation, spiritual values, national identity, ethical issues related to the conservation of biodiversity and old-growth forests. Built on the recognition that forests must be managed so as to meet our needs without jeopardizing the needs of future generations, modern forestry aims at the sustainable management of our forests for society as a whole. Forest renewal is key to meeting both the economic and environmental needs.

Historically, forest practitioners have managed our forests for timber, protecting them from fires and pests, harvesting the mature trees, and re-establishing new forests after harvest, fires, or damage by pests. They have traditionally excelled not only at gathering and analyzing information about the resource but also at planning and executing specific actions with the information gathered.

As with all disciplines today, modern forestry has become increasingly complex and sophisticated. Modern practitioners must thoroughly understand the biology of trees, the ecology of forests, operations research, wood science and manufacturing processes, fire and pest detection and control. To design and implement forest management programs that impact on diverse public and private interests, foresters have had to acquire an understanding of the broader economic, environmental, and social dimensions of managing renewable resources. They have had to take into consideration all uses and users. Forest practitioners have had to become skilled communicators, sensitive to public concerns and able to explain forestry goals and practices.

Forest practitioners work for a variety of employers including the federal, provincial and municipal governments, industries, consulting and research firms, colleges, universities, and non governmental organizations. Canadian practitioners work not only in Canada, but also around the world in many different countries.

Practitioners work for provincial natural resources departments, protecting and managing public lands, ensuring that forests are utilized in a rational, scientifically sound manner, developing policy and providing advice and assistance to private forestry companies.

Forest practitioners are called upon to manage our forests for various public and private needs. This challenge can be met only by a combination of scientific, management and communication skills. They map and inventory the forest resource, supervise its harvesting, reforest cutover lands, protect it from wildfires and pests, ands manage it for recreation and water, values. They may work as researchers at one of several centres across Canada maintained by the Canadian Forest Service or the Provinces. Important fields of research are biotechnology, silviculture and silvics, forest economics, and remote sensing.

Many forest practitioners have specialized training in harvesting and silviculture. They work for forest product companies in the planning and supervising the wood supply to sawmills, wood panel mills, and the pulp and paper mills.