#WomenInForestry – meet Thobile Ndlovu
Sappi Forests
Management Forester
Qualifications:
- National diploma in Forestry
- Btech Forestry
- Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Relations Law
Forestry career: 11 years
My job involves the management of contractors to ensure efficient delivery of timber to markets according to specifications. I also conduct field inspections for safety, risk management and stump cut audits. Ensure roads are clear and maintained for proper logistics of timber. Mentoring of young foresters and exposing them to all forestry operations.
WHY I LOVE WORKING IN THE FORESTRY SECTOR
Forestry is an outdoor career which features a lot of diversity and besides focusing on growing healthy trees, you also get to deal with many people from different walks of life; colleagues, contractors and community members. For me, the most enjoyable aspect of forestry is that one encounters different challenges daily, making sure that you gather many problem-solving skills, which keeps one wide awake. Not only that, but the work is often in beautiful areas with no desks and cubicles insight.
MY ADVICE TO THOSE EXPLORING A CAREER IN FORESTRY
Forestry is a sustainable career that will be there from generation to generation. Because females can nurture children, which is the same skill required for growing plants, and they have the patience and the ability to pay attention to detail and to provide leadership, these are all characteristics which lead to doing well in this field. Even though you have to be hands-on when it comes to operations, one can still look beautiful!
