The Royal Forestry Society (RFS) has launched two new qualifications to meet the skills needed by modern foresters.
Phil Tanner, RFS Education Manager, worked with awarding body ABC to build the theory components of the new qualifications – the ABC Awards Level 2 Forestry and Level 3 Silviculture – which can be taken as standalone qualifications. The addition of practical proficiency awards, similar to the long standing RFS Cert Arb, ensure that the new RFS Certificate in Forestry (Level 2) and RFS Certificate in Silviculture (Level 3) will develop skilled and competent foresters for the future.
Speaking at APF 2014, during a seminar on Forestry Skills and Learning alongside the ICF, Forestry Commission and The Duchy Estates, Phil explained: “Woodland owners and colleges have told us there is a need for qualifications which reflect the requirement to manage our woodlands to meet the challenges to develop resilience to climate change, pests and diseases and bring more woods back into management.
“Both the new qualifications can be delivered flexibly to reduce barriers to learning and to ensure that anyone wishing to train in forestry has access to that opportunity. The flexibility of our qualifications assist those who wish to retrain, making these qualifications the ideal opportunity for anyone who has considered a career change but didn’t think it possible.”
Paul Eeles, Chief Executive of ABC Awards (part of the EMFEC Group), has expressed his support for the new qualifications: “We are delighted to be working with the RFS to ensure the skills of learners match up with those required by woodland owners and employers. ABC Awards have a long tradition of developing qualifications that meet the needs of industry, and place particular emphasis on supporting those sectors that are not deemed to be mainstream but add just as much value to our society.”
The RFS Certificate in Forestry combines many core modules with the existing, and widely regarded, Level 2 Certificate in Arboriculture, making it easy for colleges to offer both qualifications. Both level 2 courses provide a solid foundation for those who wish to progress onto the Level 3 Certificate in Silviculture.
More details are available from the learning pages atwww.rfs.org.uk or email education@rfs.org.uk
