Great moment for forestry trainees: top results in Sonthofen!

Great moment for forestry trainees: top results in Sonthofen!

In good news for the Sonthofen forestry company, three young trainees passed their final exam to become “forest managers” with flying colors. The exam took place at the end of July at the Bavarian Forest Farmers' School in Kelheim. In addition to theoretical knowledge, the examinees also had to demonstrate their practical skills by caring for a young stand of different tree species. What was important was a deep understanding of tree species, their requirements for soil and light, as well as the proper use of plant protection products and the professional felling of trees. Johannes Karg impressed with an excellent result and achieved the second best test result in all of Bavaria. Marco Krün and Nils Pöppl can now also call themselves proud foresters. All three are starting a permanent employment relationship at the Sonthofen forestry company, as Merkur reports.

The joy of this achievement is also evident in forestry manager Jann Oetting, who warmly thanked the trainers. This shows that good training in forestry lays essential foundations for a future career, not only in theory but also in practice.

Diverse training opportunities in the forestry sector

But what is the general status of forestry training in Germany? In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), for example, there are over 250 companies and forestry companies that train foresters. The largest training company in North Rhine-Westphalia, Wald und Holz, offers around 100 training positions and takes on around 35 new trainees every year. These are taught inter-company content in order to deepen the necessary knowledge about the forest and forestry. At the Forest Education Center (FBZ) in Arnsberg, trainees can not only gain theoretical knowledge, but also gain practical experience that they need in their professional lives. Successful graduates can usually expect follow-up employment, as can be read on the website of Wald und Holz NRW.

For those interested, in addition to training as a forester, there are also numerous job offers that require more and more skilled workers. For example, #TeamForstBW offers training positions with a clear application period, which this year began on April 1st. Anyone interested in the training should have a great interest in forests, wood and nature and have at least a secondary school diploma. In order to be accepted into #TeamForstBW, physical fitness, teamwork and endurance are essential, as emphasized on ForstBW.

Good prospects for the future

The apprenticeship years are well regulated by collective agreements and can also be financially attractive for future foresters. The first years of training begin with a gross salary of 1,293.26 euros, which increases in the following years. Practical teaching content and responsible activities in nature are combined with legal benefits, such as the right to 30 days of vacation and other additional benefits, for example for further training in certain qualifications. Anyone who is particularly hardworking can expect a bonus of 400 euros for passing the final exam.

The good training and the existing challenges in forestry show that the profession of forestry not only involves a lot of responsibility, but also great opportunities. With a clear view of a green and sustainable future, which will be shaped by committed and well-trained specialists, the newly qualified foresters can look forward to varied and fulfilling activities.