Amidst California’s deepening wildlife crisis and the persistent job shortages in the forestry sector, the state has initiated a new initiative to bolster its forestry workforce.

In a media briefing on November 26, hosted by Ethnic Media Services, a panel of experts discussed how the state’s new initiative can foster a healthier forestry workforce. 

Speakers

  • Matt Dias, President and CEO, California Forestry Association
  • Chief Matthew Reischman, Deputy Director of Resource Management, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
  • Brita Goldstein, Community Affairs and Communications Representative, Green Diamond Resource Company
  • J. Lopez, Public Member, California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection

California boasts an impressive 33 million acres of forest land. Of these, 4 million acres are highly managed. To address the critical need for skilled workers, particularly from underrepresented communities, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has launched the California Forestry Sector Jobs Initiative.

This initiative aims to recruit approximately 1,000 forestry professionals to fill a diverse range of positions, spanning vocational and educational levels. These roles encompass various responsibilities, such as logging, manufacturing, engineering, bioenergy production, forest management, mapping, park guiding, environmental analysis, biology, accounting, human resources, electrical work, and distribution driving.

The initiative seeks to attract individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities, ensuring a more inclusive and representative workforce. Open job opportunities, along with their respective pay and locations, are available on the CAL FIRE website. These positions are predominantly situated near Northern California cities and towns, including Eureka, Chico, Ukiah, Redding, Anderson, Quincy, and Red Bluff.

California 

California forestry workforce has been experiencing a steady decline over the past three decades, primarily due to an aging and shrinking population. This decline has been compounded by the challenges posed by climate change, which have significantly increased the state’s forestry needs.

To address these challenges, the California Forestry Association (Calforests), representing the state’s private forestry business sector, received a grant from CAL FIRE to support the implementation of the jobs initiative. This collaboration aims to ensure a sustainable and resilient forestry workforce that can effectively manage and protect California’s precious forest resources.

Matt Dias grew up in Sacramento, where he currently resides. His interest in forestry “by chance” emerged during his college years, as many Californians, including Dias, were unaware of the forestry industry’s presence in their state.

When entering the industry, Dias noted a significant lack of gender and cultural diversity. However, over the past 15 years, there has been a notable shift, particularly in terms of gender equality. Nevertheless, cultural disparities still exist. Dias emphasized that forests are dynamic and ever-evolving systems, constantly growing and changing. To address this, he advocated for a shift away from relying solely on chance encounters and instead, actively piquing people’s early interest in collaborating to maintain these systems.

Traditionally, forestry jobs in rural communities, as well as the equipment used, have been passed down through generations, primarily from mothers to daughters and sons. This limited the opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to enter the field.

However, Dias highlighted a pressing forest management issue in California. The state faces the challenge of effectively utilizing its natural resources, commercializing timber, and simultaneously enhancing wildfire resiliency across the entire state. The recent five to ten years have witnessed a surge in wildfire activity, resulting in the burning of an alarming 1,040,146 acres statewide as of November 15, 2024. This figure surpasses the five-year average of 1,284,570 acres burned annually.

Matthew Reischman underscored the protective forest practice laws in California, which mandate the growth of more trees than ever before. However, there is a common misconception that green forests are inherently healthy. Reischman explained that the average fire-return interval in the Sierra Nevada is approximately seven to twelve years for an acre. While some stands have remained untouched by fire for decades, the accumulation of brush over time weakens these forests, making them more susceptible to wildfires.

“Every five to 10 years, stands will regrow, but if we don’t maintain them, we’ll continue to see large and catastrophic fires,” he added. “As a fire department, we have to make fast decisions; often, people’s lives and property depend on it. But if we have an opportunity to pause and diversify the way we work together, as through this initiative, we’re ultimately more informed to make better decisions.”

Foresters’ Stories

“As an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, I originally wanted to be a wildlife biologist, but my first year in 2010 I was drawn to forestry because how much you have to know to care for an entire forest — like hydrology, soil science, botany and wildlife ecology,” said Brita Goldstein.

According to the California Licensed Foresters Association, there are approximately 1,500 registered professional foresters (RPFs) in California.

“I then studied in a forestry program at Berkeley composed 80% of women, which is highly unusual,” she continued. “After graduating in 2014, I learned my craft by consulting with small family forest owners to manage their lands. After earning my RPF license in 2018, I now work in the private sector promoting forestry education.”

Amidst the escalating climate change and heightened wildfire risk, Goldstein observed a surge in demand for forestry jobs since she began her career a decade ago. Consequently, wages have also increased: “I was very excited to have my first job at $13 an hour. Now, my company will pay someone in a similar entry position starting more in the range of $20 to $22 an hour.”

“Forestry is incredibly valuable because we work on such a long-term scale, sometimes spanning a century. I won’t witness all the trees I plant reaching their full height, but I persist in my efforts. I believe that drive to ensure the resilience of our forests for future generations is what builds the integrity of this field.” She continued, “Our work does reward us with tangible results and a sense of purpose, such as treating fuels to prevent wildfires or harvesting trees and selling logs to support families.”

“Forestry encompasses a wide range of knowledge and opportunities,” said J. Lopez.

Over four decades of experience, Lopez’s journey began in forest management and nursery work in Southern California, the rainforests of southern Mexico, and the high elevations of Northern Mexico. He then transitioned to the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Forestry Division and worked with the state.

Lopez highlighted the beauty of forestry in preserving our resources and ensuring their renewable nature. He explained that by properly maintaining wood, we can harvest it and create products that are widely used, such as pencils, houses, toothpaste, and even space satellites. The knowledge gained in restoring disrupted ecosystems empowers individuals to make a positive impact on the management and utilization of areas.

Lopez emphasized that while the full extent of our work may not be visible during our lifetime, it will always have a lasting impact on future generations. He concluded, “This work means understanding the legacy we can leave behind.” 

 

Images provided by EMS.