Integrated Vegetation Management Technician & Skilled Laborer – Evergreen Limited
I have been working as an Invasive Vegetation Management Technician and Skilled Laborer with Evergreen Limited. Because I have been called on to support both vegetation management and skilled labor contracts, I have worked on a wide range of projects – from monitoring the safe excavation of a salmon pathway expansion to treating invasive vegetation in remote areas of the Lower Mainland. This summer has given me a valuable behind-the-scenes perspective on the “war with invasives” in British Columbia, and it has shown me the breadth of what conservation projects can involve. While I have developed technical skills such as safety compliance and chemical handling, I have also gained practical abilities that are applicable to daily life and to the potential future operations of a small business.
Co-op has given me the opportunity to learn how to translate textbook processes into the realities of a small environmental restoration company, as well as to gain insight into the management of forest construction sites. It has also allowed me to explore a career path very different from the research-focused roles I have held in the past. I would highly recommend the Forestry Co-op Program to anyone looking to gain practical experience while discovering how their degree can make a tangible impact on the environment.