Forestry Consultant

The Forestry Consultant is skilled in the ‘art’ of silviculture and can take full or partial charge of your forestry management and silvicultural system. Like any forestry manager, the consultant can take care of the administrative aspects, such as drafting the ‘PSG’ forest management plan and compiling maps of the forests.

He can devise a silvicultural system adapted to the forest site, schedule felling, maintenance, the selection system, pruning and other work. He can apply for State subsidies for infrastructure work and proceed with wood sales.

An array of skills

Some forestry consultants work together within an association to offer their clients grouped sales at better rates through access to specific markets. The consultant can also manage forestry groups while guaranteeing the silvicultural system in place, as he is first and foremost qualified in forestry management.

He is involved in surveying, arbitration, estimates (technical and market value, etc.) and carries out environmental, hunting, recreational or other studies.

In fact, the forestry consultant is a forestry manager who has specialist professional experience of at least three to ten years, depending on his level of qualification. Regular surveying work is an integral requirement in the profession.

The CNEFAF

The forestry consultant is completely independent vis-à-vis wood buyers and contractors. He is forbidden from buying wood himself from his clients and from carrying out the forestry work he recommends. All operations headed by the forestry consultant must be transparent.

The Conseil National de l’Expertise Foncière Agricole et Forestière (the CNEFAF or National Council for Land, Agricultural and Forestry Expertise) was founded in 2006 in France. This organization lists all the forestry consultants working in France. These consultants are required to devote several days to training every year.

The CNEFAF has disciplinary powers giving it the status of “administrative tribunal”. It is able to rule on ethical matters. In the event of a dispute, appeals are referred to the Council of State.

People included on the CNEFAF list form a recognized body of professional experts, located all over France and providing private owners and institutional instructing parties with a guarantee of professionalism and probity. http://www.cnefaf.fr/

The forestry consultant offers a personalized management service, working closely with the client.