Forestry
College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences
The Forestry program is the perfect fit for students who wish to have a deeper understanding of the many different aspects of managing natural and human elements of forest systems. Forestry requires a broad education. It combines forest ecosystem sciences, management sciences, and communications skills for managing forest resources to meet society’s ever increasing needs for desired products, services, and forest conditions.
Forestry students face a challenging and stimulating education that matches human needs and desires with the sustainable capabilities of forests.
UMaine has the longest continuously accredited professional Forestry Program in the United States. Maine has more forests than the rest of New England combined, and Orono is surrounded by vast and varied woodlands. This provides unparalleled opportunities for research and field experience.
The forestry program provides the broad education required by professional foresters. A forester must understand the many different aspects of managing natural and human elements of forest systems. Biological and physical sciences deal with the complex interactions of forest ecosystems. Social sciences provide understanding of how humans value forest conditions and forest-based products and services. Computer tools, field skills, and quantitative methods provide the information necessary for foresters to make management decisions.
UMaine’s School of Forest Resources faculty are known as a source of objective scientific information. They have an international reputation for cutting-edge research innovation and are committed to educating the next generation of leaders on forest resources issues. In a typical year, our faculty receive $2.5 million in research grants and publish 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals. They also provide leadership regionally and nationally to professional organizations.
Knowledge of forest operations and markets is a key element of sustainable forestry. The Forestry program at the University of Maine retains a strong field orientation.
The program utilizes the University’s 1,750-acre Dwight B. Demeritt Forest located next to the campus. In addition, the nearbyPenobscot Experimental Forest and other properties owned and managed by the University, provide nearly 13,500 acres of living laboratories for forestry education and research.
Forestry graduates may work for large companies, like Irving and Weyerhaeuser, or become independent consultants, serving private forest landowners such as the thousands who own more than half of Maine’s timberland. Federal agencies, such as the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service employ many foresters. State natural resources agencies hire foresters to manage state forestlands and to provide advice to owners of small woodland properties. Nongovernmental conservation organizations employ foresters to further the interests of their programs.
Candice Goyette
Student Academic Services Coordinator
Nutting Hall, Room 201B
207.581.4737 | candice.goyette@maine.edu
School of Forest Resources
College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences
Nutting Hall
207.581.1841