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Marcus Robbins
My
sister suggested I would like forestry - and she was right! I really enjoyed
my time at Aberdeen. After graduating in
1970, a year with VSO in Nigeria stimulated my interest
in tropical forestry, learning how hippos bother farmers and scorpions sting
(among other things). After a short time at the Oxford Forestry Institute, I
started work with ODA (now DFID) in Nicaragua testing species and
provenances, and getting a taste for earthquakes, hurricanes, and
revolutions. In Honduras, I specialised in seeds
helping to distribute tropical pines around the world. After 10 years I left
with a wife and three children and went on to Nepal for four years. Still
working with seeds, I helped train hundreds of seed collectors even though I
couldn't climb a tree myself! From that technical start, I plunged into the
timber lined corridors of the European Commission, advising on forest
development policy for three years. Then it was five years based in Barbados, advising on
identification and implementation of forestry projects in the Caribbean. I learnt how a
watershed project could be severely reshaped by volcanic eruptions (on Montserrat), and how forests can
indeed grow on pure beach sand (in Guyana). Then I was based in Britain at the Natural Resources
Institute developing training material (based on my successes and failures!)
Now I have just entered the world of the independent consultant, roaming to Rome, travelling many hours
on the internet and finding out what's new in forestry. And it seems to be a
subject even more varied and stimulating than when I first started out.
Highly to be recommended!
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Emma Stewart
I started at Aberdeen University in 1993 and graduated in
1997. After graduating I decided to gain some practical experience by doing
voluntary work as a Voluntary Officer for Scottish Conservation Projects
Trust (now BTCV Scotland). Then I volunteered for the RSPB at Forest Lodge in
Abernethy, particularly as I had completed my honours thesis on the ‘Importance
of Dead Wood in Forests’. I continue my work with SCP in the Highlands and Islands area and spent a
wonderful few months planting trees among other activities. In August 1998 I
took up a new post of Voluntary Assistant Warden on an Island Local Nature
Reserve in the Bristol Channel for 6 months, then as warden on a National Nature
Reserve in Norfolk where I gained lots of
practical experience. My first paid job came in January 2000 as Community and
Environment Ranger with Forest Enterprise in Scottish Lowlands Forest
District. I am the first point of contact for the local people in my area. I
deal with community liaison, conservation, recreation, heritage and
partnership working. We liaise closely with the forest operations side of our
team so that the commercial side does not adversely impact on the forest
environment. I also lead the conservation work for the District and found that
my previous experience provided me with a good background. Forest management is not just
about forests, foresters manage grasslands, wetlands, bogs
and moor land and each of these habitats needs different expertise. One of my
other main areas of work is planning the restoration of native woodland
ancient woodland sites. My job also connects Forest Enterprise back to the
local communities to some extent through regular visits to my area.
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