Would anyone like to do a job in contact with nature?

Nature and work, a possible combination. Why design a sustainable future it is increasingly necessary. The UN also says it, which has placed in the2030 Agenda the programmatic objectives for an effective ecological transition. The watchword is precisely «ecological transition», that is decarbonization, the gradual abandonment of fossil fuels in favor of renewable energies deriving from water, sun and wind. And among the programmatic objectives of the Agenda (and also of the PNRR), there is that of safeguarding our forest and woodland heritage, or the lungs of the planet, and in particular all those activities of conservation, management and restoration of forest ecosystems.

The new professions for the protection and management of the woods

If you were thinking of a simple one forest ranger you are off track. And even if often the starting point is one degree in Forestry and Environmental Sciences, even a generic profile can aspire to some profiles, especially in the field of communication. As regards the conservation and protection of the forest heritage made fragile by climate change and extreme events, a profile that has become in great demand overseas – and shortly here with us – is that of the Forest Fire Fighter, specialized in the prevention and extinguishing of forest fires, which require different techniques and tools than those of different areas, such as urban ones. Not only that, there is an dire need to Log Salvagerthat is experts in recovering the wood of trees felled by storms (such as the notorious storm Vaia, which occurred in Val di Fassa in 2018 which swept away 42,500 hectares of forests) and the Rotation Plantation Managerthat is, a botanist in charge of crop rotation and planting new trees, which partially replace fallen ones.

Apart from catastrophes, specialists are also needed on the play front. One of these is assigned to the adventure park design in the woods – increasingly in demand – and even professionals related to well-being, such as the Forest Therapist to develop practices and paths in the woods to promote well-being and relaxation by following the practice of forest bathing in use for years in Japan, an expert in environmental education able to develop sensory experiences and paths to discover the woods. A complete picture that also includes the Forest Communicator, who work to effectively communicate the role of forests on social networks and websites.

The free WWF and Sofidel training course

Precisely to train future professionals who care about our woods WWF Italy and Sofidelone of the largest companies in the world in the production of paper, member of the Global Compact and of the international program WWF Climate Savershave just launched the call to action Sofidel4Talent: a free training course in forest conservation and management.

The course is aimed at 15 undergraduates and recent graduates in scientific disciplinesand will take place from 27 to 29 May 2022 between the WWF Biodiversity Museum in Monticiano and the Alto Merse Nature Reserve, in the province of Siena.

A three-day experience, which also includes night excursions, with university professors among the most experienced to understand the value of biodiversity, the economic and social implications of protecting forest ecosystems, the dynamics of fire prevention, as well as the effects of nature on people’s health and well-being. At the end of the course it will be released a certificate of participation with which it will be possible to request the relative ones from the University Department University credits.