Faces of Forestry is an initiative of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) to highlight people doing meaningful work to support healthy and resilient forests across British Columbia. This week, we are pleased to highlight Eli Rupp, machine operator at Integrated Operations Group (IOG), based in Campbell River, British Columbia.
Having started his career in the forestry industry without a post-secondary education, Eli notes that this career path has been especially fulfilling for him as someone who has always enjoyed spending time out in nature, with hobbies including camping, hunting, and fishing. Additionally, his affinity for working outdoors and caring for the environment was passed down to him by his father, who worked as a tree planter when Eli was a child, as well as by other family members who pursued similar careers in forestry.
“Things have really come full circle at this point,” he said. “When I’m working on commercial thinning, there is always a chance that I’ll be cutting down trees that my dad planted back in the day.”
Eli’s current role at IOG mainly involves running equipment, as well as mechanical and software maintenance. The machines that Eli typically operates, namely wheeled cut-to-length equipment, are used for commercial thinning and require a week of challenging simulator training before beginning work in the field.
“After simulator training, you need ‘seat time’ to get used to how each different machine responds to your inputs and become a proficient operator. I’ve also observed how other operators work and learned from what they where doing,” he added.
Eli also noted that many of his practical skills were learned through active participation in the field, and that teamwork and mentorship have been essential for him when it comes to hands-on training.
“When I started running the harvester, I needed to not only learn how to operate the machines efficiently, but also how to plan trails while knowing what trees to remove, and more importantly, what trees to leave,” he said. “This is done by consulting the experienced operators on our crew, as well as having frequent check-ins with my supervisor and the forwarder operators to make sure that my work was up to the required standards and the wood was properly positioned for efficient hauling. This is something I’m still doing as I feel there is always room for improvement and project has different specifications and terrain.”
Eli emphasized that the mindset necessary to complete this type of work is equally important as practical skills.
“The process requires a high level of care and attention. Commercial thinning operators need to complete thorough training, but taking pride in what we do and caring about forest stewardship is also essential,” he said, adding that this work helps create healthier forests for the future while providing a source of fiber and supporting economies today.
Throughout these two and a half years of experience at IOG, he has noticed significant improvements in how his team operates to ensure that the sustainability of forests and the ecosystems within are a top priority.
“By opening up the forest canopy, or the uppermost layer, we allow light and precipitation to reach the forest floor, enabling new growth of small plants and other species to keep the forest healthy and diverse,” he explained.
As industry practices evolve, Eli sees the potential to develop many more effective solutions for long-term environmental sustainability.
Eli takes great pride in his team’s hard work and is very grateful for the funding provided by FESBC, which is helping them complete their current fire mitigation project near Nazko First Nation. This project focuses on rehabilitating the forest after a mountain pine beetle outbreak that resulted in a significant number of pine trees dying and falling to the forest floor. By removing the dead pines, the potential for ground fires to be fuelled by these fallen trees is significantly lessened.
Looking ahead, he hopes to continue to work towards maintaining the health and sustainability of our forests for years to come.
Thank you, Eli, for your hard work, passion, and commitment to leaving the forest better than you found it.