Ontario's forests.
Our responsibility.

Caring for Ontario's forests since 1957.

Photo by: Marc Johnson

The Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) 
is committed to actively contributing to sustainable forest management by assuring the highest professional standards of practice in forestry. OPFA carries out this mandate by: Advocating the highest standards of practice; Establishing and enforcing high standards of professionalism among members; Promoting competency and continuing education among members; and enhancing public awareness about professional forestry.

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News & Events

News & Events

2022 OPFA Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting

Save the date for the 2022 OPFA Annual Conference!
The theme of this years conference is: Supporting Resilient Forests and Growing Trust

We are evaluating the COVID-19 situation and health guidelines carefully to determine whether the conference will go ahead as a hybrid conference with an in-person session in Sudbury, or as a fully virtual conference. More information will be provided soon.

Registration will open in February.

News & Events

COVID-19 update

Due to the current situation with COVID-19, our physical OPFA office is closed.

However our staff are working from home, and OPFA Members and the public can continue to contact us using phone and e-mail.

Due to our virtual office system, we are able to continue to serve the public without any interruption and there are no additional changes in OPFA services to Members or the public.

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News & Events

Update: Changes to the Professional Foresters Act

December 16, 2021

Bill 13 Supporting People and Business Act, 2021 received royal assent on December 2, 2021 and the changes to the Professional Foresters Act therefore came into effect upon that date. These changes refine the scope of practice of professional foresters and will allow the public to better understand their role.

You can find the changes on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario website: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-13.

View the updated Professional Foresters Act, 2000 here.

 

What are the benefits of these changes? 

These changes include new definitions, rewording the scope of professional forestry, and clearer wording related to protecting the title used by professional foresters. The changes more clearly define professional forestry and reduce overlap with different occupations that also work in forestry. Please note that the changes do not include any changes to Regulation 145/01 ; that is there is no change to the occupations that are excluded.

  1. For the public: A clearer description of the scope of practice of a professional forester raises awareness of what a professional forester does, and means that the public will be more informed when making inquiries or if they are filing a concern or complaint with the OPFA. 
  2. For employers and landowners: Clearer definitions and scope of practice mean that employers and landowners will have a better understanding of when they would benefit from hiring a professional forester. 
  3. For OPFA Members: A clearer definition of what professional foresters do, with less overlap with other occupations that work in forestry, allows professional foresters to be secure in their role in the workplace. The changes also provide better title protection and ensure that only professional foresters may portray themselves as such.
  4. For the OPFA: Clearer definitions and scope of practice, with less overlap with other professions working in forestry, and better title protection enable the OPFA to respond to inquiries and address concerns and complaints more effectively. 

Next steps:

The OPFA looks forward to continuing to collaborate with other professions and occupations that provide valuable environmental and business services to the people and employers in Ontario, in areas beyond changes to our governing regulations.

Photo by: Kandyd Szuba

What Foresters Do

Registered Professional Foresters (R.P.F.s) are responsible for serving the public interest by sustainably managing forests. R.P.F.s form part of the professional forestry team responsible for planning and approving all activities related to forest management. They enable landowners to make decisions such as when, where and how to access, harvest and reforest areas. They also ensure the protection of forest values including fish, wildlife, soil, carbon and water. They help protect human infrastructure such as utility corridors and care for and plan urban forests.

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Practicing Forestry

OPFA has over 900 members of which approximately 600 are licensed to practice in Ontario today. Today’s foresters pursue careers to ensure a healthy future for both people and the environment. Careers range from practical day to day management of our forests to conducting cutting-edge scientific research in a variety of forestry related disciplines. Traditional forestry careers have included forest management to meet multiple objectives such as protecting biodiversity and producing wood products. Today professional foresters work in urban forests, private woodlots and Crown land.

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Become a Registered Professional Forester Today

OPFA is dedicated to regulating its members and ensuring the highest standards in the practice of professional forestry, and in advancing the practice and awareness of the profession  for both public and privately owned lands in the province of Ontario.

Membership in OPFA is open to anyone who has or is seeking a career in the forestry profession, during or after completion of a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from an accredited  Canadian University or has equivalent academic qualifications.

Find Out How

Find a Professional Forester

Search our member directory by name, location, or services provided.

Information about unregistered practitioners available here.

Get in Touch

Mailing Address

Ontario Professional Foresters Association

5 Wesleyan St, #201

Georgetown, ON

L7G 2E2

Phone

1-905-877-3679
Fax

1-905-877-6766
Email
opfa@opfa.ca
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