The changing professional identity of foresters

Summary

An examination of the extensive literature on the culture of professionalism in Australian forestry suggests that it is changing in response to public interest. This is affecting job functions, work practices and social relations. Forestry is moving from a restricted professionalism, identified with the traditional characteristics of a technical elite serving powerful interests in government and industry, to an extended professionalism, engaging community education through participation in deliberation on policy in forestry management. The need to reform forestry education and the relationship between these changes and the roles of the Institute of Foresters of Australia and higher education, are discussed.