Ontario's forests.
Our responsibility.

The Regulator of Professional Foresters in Ontario

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

Official Implementation of OPFA Indigenous Peoples Lands & Resources Standard

Forestry is conducted on lands that are covered by treaties with First Nations or are unceded by First Nations. An understanding of Indigenous history and Indigenous jurisdiction related to lands and resources supports and enhances professional practice, whether professional foresters are working with government agencies (federal, Indigenous, provincial, or municipal), forest sector employers, consultants, or service providers to landowners and the public. Professional foresters practising in Ontario are now required to meet the competencies related to Indigenous jurisdiction in Canada that are outlined in the Standard. OPFA Council approved the OPFA Indigenous Peoples, Lands & Resources (IPLR) Standard at their December 5th 2019 Council meeting and work began to develop a series of specialized training materials for professional foresters. At the Annual General Meeting on April 9, 2025, the Membership confirmed the By-law changes passed by OPFA Council. These changes officially implemented the Indigenous Peoples Lands and Resources Standard into the Professional Standards of Practice and added successful demonstration of competency in this Standard as a requirement for Full and Associate Membership, effective May 1, 2025.
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News & Events

OPFA Shadow a Forester Program

Many people studying forestry or wanting to enter the profession of forestry, whether domestically or internationally trained, usually lack a professional network and experience in forestry. These factors have been noted as major barriers for entry into the workforce by new forest professionals around the world in a recent United Nations report. In 2022, the Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) formed a Professional Networking Task Team (PNTT). One of the goals of this task team is to provide new OPFA members, such as yourself, opportunities to gain a better understanding of forestry and develop your professional network. To do so, the PNTT developed a program called “Shadow a Forester”. The program provides students and provisional OPFA members the opportunity to connect with professional foresters working in various aspects of professional forestry.
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News & Events

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Training Resources

   
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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.

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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
PO Box 30038
Georgetown RPO Mountainview, ON, L7G 6J8

Phone
1-905-877-3679
Email
opfa@opfa.ca
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