NEFU was founded in July 1952 under the name Northeast Forestry College, established based on the forestry departments of Zhejiang University’s College of Agriculture and Northeast Agricultural College. It was initially under the direct administration of the former Ministry of Forestry. In August 1985, it was renamed Northeast Forestry University. In February 2000, it was transferred to the direct administration of the Ministry of Education from the former State Forestry Administration. In October 2005, it was approved as a key university under the national “211 Project” by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Education. In November 2010, the Ministry of Education and the former State Forestry Administration signed a cooperation agreement to develop the university. In June 2011, it became a key university under the National “Innovative Platforms for Advantageous Disciplines” project. In March 2012, the Ministry of Education and the People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province signed a cooperation agreement to support the university. In September 2017, it was approved by the State Council as a “Double First-Class” university. In February 2022, it was selected for the second round of the national “Double First-Class” initiative.