Forest engineering is a hybrid of engineering, forestry and management. It requires people who can combine skills to solve engineering problems in the natural environment, with a focus on balancing economic, societal and environmental requirements. Forest engineers construct and evaluate the operational systems that make the forest industry ‘work’. This can include: designing and building new roads developing or modifying forestry equipment planning harvest operations optimising transport logistics integrating new technologies supervising employees and contractors ensuring safety standards are maintained. Forest engineers work with public and governmental agencies. They look after the environment, and may steer projects through the resource consent process. Forest engineering graduates know the forest environment and forest products and processes, and they provide the essential link between the forest and the final product.

Forest engineers have a wide skillset that provides work opportunities both at home and abroad. Graduates can take up employment in the forest industry, but because of the multidisciplinary nature of forest engineering, job opportunities are also available in areas including general engineering consultancy, local and regional councils, government agencies, resource management and research. Careers in these organisations are challenging, creative, stimulating and offer great scope for advancement.