Top Forestry Courses

As climate change is hovering over our heads, earth’s flora and fauna have been potentially impacted and certainly not in a good way. Forests play a significant role in the ecosystem and are integral natural resources which has further lead to the dire need for their conservation. Forestry is simply defined as the science of creating, planting, managing and conserving forests and their resources. As a forester, you are required to develop efficient forest management plans, select sites to plant trees, as well as supervise varied projects. If you have always been inclined towards maintaining a greener environment and want to build a career in the same, here is a blog that lists down major forestry courses, universities you can choose from as well as the career prospects this field has on offer.

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Top Forestry Courses: Overview

As the need for sustainable use of resources is emerging as a crucial one, Forestry involves the study of efficiently managing the forests and woody areas and designing schemes for their conservation. It is more of an expansive domain which combines varied sciences including soil science, biology, physics and climatology, amongst others. Owing to the multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies, Forestry courses are spread across several branches including forest engineering and forest management. Forest Management is concerned with the application of engineering concepts to facilitate the management of greener lands. It encompasses the health and sustainability of forests as well as timberlands, wildlands and watersheds along with permitting for economic activities like timber harvesting and recreational utilisation. On the other hand, Forest Management involves the administrative, legal, economic, social and technical facets of maintaining forest lands.

List of Top Forestry Courses

There are various forestry courses that students can pursue in different specialisations. Below is a list of some of the popular specialised programs in forestry and its related fields that are available at different levels: 

• Bachelor of Science in Forestry
• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Forestry
• Bachelor of Science in Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources
• Master of Science in Forestry
• Master of Science in Wood Science and Tech
• Master of Science in Agroforestry
• Master of Science in Forests Products
• Master of Science in Tree Improvements
• Post Graduate Diploma in Forest Management
• Master of Science in Forest Genetics Resources
• Master of Science in Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Technology

Now, let’s elaborate some of these bachelor’s and master’s Forestry courses in further detail.

Bachelor of Science in Forestry (B.Sc in Forestry)

B.Sc in Forestry is offered as a 3-4 year undergraduate program and equips students with the knowledge of facilitating new plantations, managing forests, maintaining old plantations and other natural resources as well. Subjects covered under this bachelor’s degree forestry course include Forestry Ecology and Conservation, Cytology and Genetics, Environmental Studies, Commercial Forestry, Wood Seasoning & Preservation, Forest Mensuration, etc. 

Master of Science in Forestry (M.Sc in Forestry)

An M.Sc in Forestry is a 2-year master’s degree which aims to provide a broad and versatile perspective of forest management and conservation. The course offers advanced knowledge of information technology, biology, environmental sciences, logistics, forest ecology, management and use of forest resources. Some of the subjects covered in this postgraduate forestry course are Advanced Silviculture, Forest Biometric, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Computer Application and Information Technology, Forest Policy and Laws and International Conventions, Forest ecology and biodiversity conservation, Forest protection and Forest Genetic Resources, etc. 

Master of Science in Agroforestry (M.Sc in Agroforestry)

Master of Science in Agroforestry is a postgraduate agricultural science and technology degree. In this program, students will get to learn about the beneficial aspects derived from the combination of trees and shrubs with livestock and crops, agricultural and forestry technologies. It is amongst the famously pursued forestry courses and some of the key topics covered under this degree include Concepts in Agroforestry, Nutrient dynamics in Aerodynamics, Environment and Productivity in Agroforestry system, Physiological aspects in Agroforestry, Hydrological and Water use in Agroforestry, etc. 

Top Universities Offering Forestry Courses

There is a wide range of educational institutions across the globe that offer a plethora of programs in Environmental Science and Forestry. Below is a list of top universities and colleges providing Forestry courses to students around the world:

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• Bangor University, UK
• Harper Adams University, UK
• Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• University of Florida, United States
• The Australian National University, Australia
• University of Montana, United States
• University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
• University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
• University of Kentucky, United States
• University of Tennessee, United States
• University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Employment Areas

Completing any of the above-mentioned course, one can explore a multitude of career prospects in different sectors. Below is a list of key employment areas where you can explore opportunities in Forestry students are recruited:

• Laboratories
• Wood-based industries
• Government Forest Department
• Pulp and Paper Industries
• Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Units
• Wood Seasoning and Preservation Treatment Plants
• Wood Work Shops and Saw Mills
• Carpentry and Bamboo Crafts

Thus, we hope that this blog has helped you understand the key essentials of forestry courses. If you are aspiring to study a degree or diploma in Environmental Science and don’t which one to opt for, take the help of Leverage Edu’s AI-based tool to browse through a varied range of courses and universities and find a suitable combination that aligns with your interests and preferences.