a unique perspective a vision for canada's forests - Canadian ...

Appendix IDetailed description of our Think Forests! programBackgroundForestry schools across Canada have shown a significant decline in enrolments,threatening the longevity of forest educational institutions and the forest sector itself. Theloss of any forest education program will damage our ability to educate the youngpractitioners of tomorrow and train a new generation, in a time when a shortage of forestpractitioners is already imminent across the country. A more tangible and coordinatedeffort from within the forest sector is needed. The sector must allow youth theopportunity to make informed career choices, especially with respect to trulyunderstanding the diversity, high-tech, sustainability and stewardship-oriented careersforestry has to offer. Therefore, a commitment to support existing post-secondarycapacity in technical and professional programs must be evident.The problem of low enrolments in post-secondary forestry programs along with the agingdemographic of many working in the forest sector has created a high demand for bothtechnical and professional graduates in forestry. The National Forest ProgramRecruitment Committee (NFPRC) is working to tackle this problem by promotingforestry as an interesting, diverse and thoroughly modern career path. The committee wasset up in 2004 and consists of representatives of the CIF/IFC, the Forest ProductsAssociation of Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Association ofBritish Columbia Forest Professionals, the universities of Alberta, British Columbia andNew Brunswick, and Natural Resources Canada.ChallengesThe National Forest Program Recruitment Committee seeks todevelop a plan to reconnect the people in our communities back theforest resource, and to spark a national interest in all Canadians tobecome stewards of our globally important forest lands. Thecommittee will adopt a universally high-standard, dynamic nationalrecruitment plan where they will invest in promotional activities andmaterial over a five-year period from 2008 to 2011. With appropriatefunding and a focused effort, much will be accomplished to reversethe current trend of declining enrolments in Canada. Our focus will- 77 -