Program overview
Forestry, simply put, is about working with forests—studying how to plant, nurture, protect trees, and maximize their ecological and economic value. At the graduate level, you'll dive into courses like forest ecology, forest genetics and breeding, silviculture, forest protection, forest management, and forestry remote sensing. Don't let the names intimidate you—many are quite fascinating. For example, you'll learn how to assess forest health using satellite imagery, or how to breed faster-growing, more disease-resistant tree species through genetic technology. Chinese universities have a major advantage in forestry: abundant practical resources. Many schools own experimental forest farms, such as Beijing Forestry University's Jiufeng Forest Farm and Northeast Forestry University's Maoershan Experimental Forest Farm, giving you plenty of opportunities for fieldwork, sampling, and experiments. If you enjoy the outdoors, don't mind hiking and wading, and are curious about natural ecosystems, this major is a great fit. Additionally, China is at the forefront of research in forest carbon sinks, desertification control, and national park construction, offering international students exposure to many interesting projects.