Waldi the dachshund on a leash, the green hat on his head, the rifle on his shoulder: This cliché is outdated. The forester’s job has changed. However, women are still underrepresented in this profession.
It smells of moss and the birds are chirping. The ambiance is soothing and peaceful. Forester Carolin Pfaff roams through her 1100 hectare forest. In August last year, the 28-year-old took over the district management in Kronberg, Hesse.
She has a special bond with her territory: it is the forest of her childhood. “Of course it’s a nice feeling to drive or run through your own territory,” says Pfaff. “When the sun shines through the trees in the morning and the buds sprout, then I feel at home.”
“Not enough role models”
Pfaff is still an exception in her job as a forester. Although the proportion of women in this division has increased at HessenForst in recent years, it was still just under 24 percent in 2022. This corresponds to the national average.
“I think it’s partly because of this outdated image of the forester, which is anchored in society,” says Pfaff. “On the other hand, you have to put up with being out and about in bad weather and with sub-zero temperatures in winter.” Especially among forest workers who put up fences and cut down trees, women are still massively underrepresented at just under two percent.
“Young, interested women need role models,” confirms Michelle Sundermann from HessenForst. “We still don’t have enough of them. Simply because we haven’t hired any new people or women for a while. It’s only coming so slowly. We have to provide more information and go to schools. More women are needed in the forest.”
study of forestry Pre-condition
As a rule, prospective foresters must have the general higher education entrance qualification, since a degree in forestry is a prerequisite for working as a forester. Depending on the federal state, the three-year bachelor’s degree is followed by either a one-year trainee service or a two-year trainee program.
According to collective agreements, the starting salary is between 3,500 and 3,650 euros gross per month in the first year. The salary increases with the length of employment.
Pfaff already knew when she was at school that she wanted to work in nature. After studying forestry, she applied to the district in Kronberg. “On the one hand, the dream job of being a forester is made up of the combination of working in the office and working outside,” she says. “You should have an affinity for nature, no matter what the weather. And on the other hand, there is the aspect of sustainability and working with nature.”
Lots of requests for internship positions
Today’s forestry aims not to take more wood from the forest than can grow back in the same amount of time. This is the basic idea of sustainable forest management. As a forester, Pfaff must already have an eye on what the forest of tomorrow should look like and take care of the offspring.
“You can see that the proportion of women is increasing,” confirms Pfaff. “This is very easy to recognize from the fact that there are more female colleagues and also from the internship requests. We have a lot of requests for internships at the Königstein forestry office. Especially from many girls, young women or students who are studying forestry and want to establish a practical relevance. ”
Carolin Pfaff has already found her dream job. Outside, in wind and weather. In the forest.