Garry Radey

Tree Marker
Westwind Forest Stewardship Inc.

As a tree marker for Westwind Forest Stewardship, Garry Radey translates the written management objectives for a forest into painted rings around trees, so that when the loggers arrive they have a clear, colour-coded map of which trees to harvest, which to leave and which areas are considered no-cut zones altogether.

Garry leads a silviculture crew in the French Severn Forests, an area that spans from the west side of Algonquin Park to Georgian Bay. In this region, the main methods of harvest include single tree selection—where trees are chosen individually, using vigor and risk characteristics (worst goes first), and the shelterwood system—where the overstory or "shelterwood" is used to seed and protect new growth, and removed in a series of cuts over time.

But as Garry is quick to point out, marking trees is about a lot more than simply harvesting. "The prescription for a stand is part of an overall Forest Management Plan, which takes upwards of two years to create and includes input from a lot of different people—everyone from wildlife biologists to members of the local community," he says. "Once the plan is approved, it's my job to make sure that the prescriptions written for the forests are implemented in an ecological and sustainable manner. On the one hand, I evaluate whether a tree has the characteristics suited to harvest. But I'm also looking for raptor nests, cavities that house small mammals and birds, moose calving sites, and a list of other concerns. As the guy marking the trees, I have to recognize and protect these different values."

To mark trees on Crown land, one must successfully pass the Ontario Tree Marker License Course sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources and its cooperative partners from the forest industry. However, before being licensed, graduates must also pass a field audit and undergo a probationary period, during which they are permitted to mark trees, but only in the company of a certified professional. Regardless of experience, everyone involved must adhere to a provincial Code of Ethics.

Like many tree markers, Garry has experience in other aspects of the forest industry. After graduating as a Forest Technician from Sir Sanford Fleming College in 1985, he set out to become as well rounded as possible, taking jobs that included everything from fighting forest fires to shooting the tops off trees to collect them for genetic research. In 1992, he became involved with the Ontario Forest Research Institute, where, in addition to gathering data, he first began marking trees. He left four years later, working for himself and various other companies before joining Westwind.

Asked whether tree marking offers opportunity for advancement, Garry said that it does—but that a lot of people choose to stay in the field. "I was attracted to forestry because I love working in the bush," he says, echoing many in the industry. "I'm not in a hurry to give that up to sit behind a desk."

At the same time, Garry calls the job both mentally and physically demanding. "Tree markers have to be trained and proficient in a variety of skills," he says, "including species identification, silviculture, disease recognition, wildlife habitat requirements, enhancement and maintenance of biodiversity, and forest stand structure. You should be good with a compass and a map—and you can't be afraid of bad weather or a little rough terrain … or, for that matter, the odd moose, bear or protective mother hawk."

If all that doesn't scare you—or better yet, sounds appealing—Garry also points out that committed young markers are currently in short supply. "Companies want consistently good work so they tend to invest in their tree markers. They send them for outside training, for professional development purposes, and treat them well overall. They try to keep their own."

For information on fees and scheduling for the Ontario Tree Marker License Course, contact Westwind Forest Stewardship at (705) 746-6832.