About The Society of Irish Foresters

OBJECTIVES

1. To promote a greater knowledge and understanding of forestry, in all its aspects, and to advance the economic, social and public benefit values arising from forests
2. To establish, secure and monitor standards in forestry education and professional practice.
3. To foster a greater unity and sense of cohesion among members and provide an appropriate range of services to members.

The Society of Irish Foresters (SIF) was founded in 1942 ‘to advance and spread the knowledge of forestry in all its aspects’. It fulfils this role by organising field days, study tours, workshops, lectures and symposia. The Society also publishes Irish Forestry, the sole technical publication on forestry in Ireland, a quarterly newsletter The Irish Forester, Policy Position Papers, and other books of both historical and technical interest.

The SIF represents the interests of over 700 members, predominantly professional foresters, but including, through its associate and student membership, a wide cross-section of people involved, or with an interest in, the forest and timber industry.

The SIF places great emphasis on promoting professional standards in forestry among the public, and the regulation of the forestry profession. To this end, members of the SIF are bound by its Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. The SIF also influences forestry education in Ireland with a view to maintaining the highest professional standards. A system of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is currently being introduced and plans are advanced for a system for members’ professional development through the SIF, through the examination process.

The SIF is committed to the provision of an appropriate range of services to members. This includes the provision of group indemnity schemes and the representation of members’ interests to policy makers. A current list of such services is available from the Technical Director at: sif@eircom.net