canadian institute of forestry annual general meeting ... · my contribution to forest sector...
TRANSCRIPT
Canadian Institute of Forestry Annual General Meeting & Conference - 2019
Diversity in the Forest Sector: the Future is Bright
Sam Nsiah
1
Journey through the Woods
2
My Passion for Forestry
• Forest
management
• Forest Industry
• Research and
education
3
Challenges – Landed immigrant (Newcomer)
• Become Registered
Professional Forester
(RPF)
• Require Mentorship
• Job market
4
Diversity in the Forest Sector?
Forest is diversity
OPFA AGM – North Bay
5
How many newcomers and visible minorities in Ontario; and within OPFA; and in your workplace?
Why is it so?
6
NRCAN 2017
My Observations
• Canadian forestry is for white Canadians – that’s the tradition – my experience at OPFA AGM
• White Canadians understand the forest sector
• Have better forestry education
• Non-inclusivity (lack of trust and acceptance – you are not like me – my experience for mentorship and Job
7
Similar challenges & common goal for Forest Sector & Forestry Professionals
Stacey Boks in BC
• Decent Income, job creation and Economic opportunities
• Recreational Activities – fishing, hunting etc.
• Spiritual wellbeing
• Protection of Values etc.
• Access, Control and Management – Tenure
• Competing Resource Interest • government/industry/communities
• Climate Change
• Crown Forest Sustainability
8
Lesson Learned
Get involve and meet people
• Volunteering for FwB - got me my first Mentor
• Active engagement with other professionals
• Lakehead University
• University of Toronto
• KBM
• OPFA Conferences
• CIF - electure
• References for job and other opportunities
9
My Contribution to Forest Sector
Regional Analyst – MNRF Northeast region
My role involves:
FMP development
• Wood supply modeling – connection to
mills/jobs/income/economic development
• Values protection (nest, communities values etc.)
• Training of forest management planning teams
• Habitat protection (moose/caribou etc.)
10
Take Home Message
• Employers make cautious effort to provide opportunities to
newcomers
• Government policies recognizing this but the hiring
managers?
• Foresters and other professionals must understand and
practise inclusivity
• Not just tolerance but acceptance and trust
• Willingness to provide opportunity
• Mentorship and Career guidance critical for newcomers
integration to realise their potentials11
Thank you!
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis