What should I choose?

Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology - a diverse and interesting course. The Bachelor and Masters programmes, with the final award of Bachelor and Masters of Science, open a number of career oppurtunities.

You want a traditional occupation with a future? Forestry in Germany has a tradition of careful utilisation of forests which goes back several centuries. Thanks to German forestry, in a highly populated and industrialised country almost a third of the land area has been retained as nearly natural. Yet, the current demands on forests are complex. In addition to the important role in wood production, forests play a role in recreation and protection of natural resources. Studies at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology provide the background for appropriate forest management.

You want to learn about Germany’s largest terrestrial ecosystem? Forests cover a third of the land area of Germany and support a large number of indigenous animals and plants. The sustainable maintenance of these habitats is a task which demands a lot of responsibility. Thus biological relationships are a major focus of our forest ecosystem research and an important subject area for teaching.

You want to work with the environmentally friendly material wood? Wood is our most important renewable raw material and important in many aspects of the economy. Coverage ranging from different harvesting techniques using state of the art technology, to determination of wood properties, and further processing to wood products, building materials, furniture, paper etc. will allow you to decide about your career in a technical field. All these aspects can be learned at our faculty.

You want to meet the increasing needs for information about the environment? Forests are sensitive ecological indicators and thus play a key role in environmental information systems. In order to include this in planning, forestry management and rural resource management are more and more using models of growth processes, population biology, and geographical information systems. Our programmes provide the background for this area of the information service industry.

You want to live and work all over the world? Forests are important for the production of the renewable resource wood, for the climate, and for animal and plant biodiversity. Foresters working outside Europe work in a variety of economic, geographical, and cultural contexts. This may be in the framework of exchange programmes or as contracts from companies or development agencies. Studies at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology provide the background for a successful career abroad.