The Ecology discipline of Northeast Forestry University (NEFU) was founded in 1952, and the College of Ecology was established in 2024. Through the persistent efforts of pioneering ecologists and more than seven decades of development, it has consistently adhered to serving major national strategic needs as its mission. Grounded in theoretical innovation and focused on the conservation and sustainable management of Northeast China's forests, the ecological discipline conducts high-level theoretical and applied research while cultivating talent. It has vigorously developed several platforms, such as National field observation stations and key laboratories under the Ministry of Education. Gradually evolving into a national key discipline with distinctive forest ecology, it encompasses four research directions: Plant Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Restoration Ecology, and Global Change Ecology. The discipline has established a robust and well-structured faculty team dedicated to comprehensively developing students' innovative and applied capabilities and nurturing high-caliber interdisciplinary talents. It provides theoretical foundations, scientific-technological support, and human resources for China's national and regional strategies, including ecological environment construction, ecological security maintenance, climate change response, and natural forest conservation.

Milestones of the College of Ecology

1952: Established the Forest Science (i.e., Forest Ecology) Teaching and Research Office at Northeast Forestry College

1962: Became one of the first ecology disciplines in China's forestry universit College ies to enroll graduate students

1981: Awarded one of China's first master's and doctoral degree programs in ecology

1995: Established a postdoctoral research station for Biology as a first-tier discipline

1997: Selected as a key discipline under the "211 Project" and designated as a Ministry of Education Base for Fundamental Science and Talent Cultivation (Biology)

2002: Recognized as a national key discipline; approved as the only Life Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Base among Chinese forestry universities

2011: Established the Ecology Research Center; recognized as Heilongjiang Province's key first-tier discipline; granted doctoral degree authorization for Ecology as a first-tier discipline

2012: Established a postdoctoral research station for Ecology as a first-tier discipline

2017: Included in China's "Double First-Class" initiative and Heilongjiang Province's domestic "First-Class Discipline" construction

2018: Launched undergraduate programs in Ecology, adopting an innovative "Bachelor-Master-PhD" integrated training model

2023: Approved as Heilongjiang Province's first High-Level Base for Fundamental Disciplines

2024: Established the College of Ecology