Founded in July 1952 as Northeast Forestry College, the university drew on the Departments of Forestry from Zhejiang University’s College of Agriculture and Northeast Agricultural College. It was originally administered directly by the former Ministry of Forestry. In August 1985, it was renamed Northeast Forestry University. In February 2000, the university’s administration was transferred from the former State Forestry Administration to the Ministry of Education. In October 2005, with approval from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Education, the university was designated a key university under China’s “Project 211.” In November 2010, the Ministry of Education and the former State Forestry Administration signed an agreement to jointly support the university. In June 2011, the university was selected as a key university under the national “Innovative Platform for Advantageous Disciplines” program. In March 2012, the Ministry of Education and the People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province signed a co-development agreement. In September 2017, with approval from the State Council, the university was included in China’s “Double First-Class” initiative. In February 2022, it was selected for the second round of the national “Double First-Class” initiative.