The Forestry discipline at our college includes two main secondary fields: Wildlife Conservation and Utilization (090705) and Nature Reserve Science (0907Z3). Current enrollment and training areas cover Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Utilization, and Protected Area Science. The discipline features 28 doctoral supervisors and 33 master’s supervisors, comprising 23 professors and 17 associate professors, bringing together the finest teaching and research talents in China’s wildlife and plant conservation and utilization and protected area management sectors.

Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Utilization

Research Directions:

(1) Wildlife Conservation Ecology emphasizes interspecies relationships, food chain and web theories, plant-animal co-evolution, mathematical modeling, the functional roles of wildlife in ecosystems, and the mechanisms that cause endangerment for threatened species.

(2) Wildlife Conservation Biology conducts systematic research on genetic diversity, species diversity, functional diversity, ecosystem diversity, and landscape diversity, emphasizing the assessment of species endangerment, evaluating biodiversity loss, analyzing extinction mechanisms, and exploring innovative genetic rescue technologies.

(3) Wildlife Conservation Medicine investigates diagnostic techniques for wildlife diseases, molecular epidemiology, pathogen ecology, disease prevention strategies, and relationships between wildlife population dynamics, habitat changes, and disease ecology.

(4) Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction includes germplasm resource surveys, genetic evaluation, establishment of modern management systems for wildlife germplasm banks, and molecular biology research on genetic polymorphism, evolutionary relationships, resistance breeding, and ex-situ conservation.

Disciplinary Features:

（1）The discipline maintains a comprehensive structure with distinct advantages. Addressing national strategies such as ecological construction, biodiversity conservation, and cross-border tiger protection between China and Russia integrates three pillars: wildlife conservation and management, captive breeding and ex-situ conservation, and pathogen ecology and disease prevention. This framework spans fundamental mechanisms to practical applications, fostering top-tier research and education. It has cultivated two Changjiang Distinguished Professors and three chief scientists for national key R&D projects, making it China’s most distinctive forestry discipline.

（2）By concentrating on intelligent wildlife monitoring and precise conservation technologies, the discipline has made strides in species-specific recognition systems, drone surveillance, automated camera traps, BeiDou collars, thermal imaging, and radar monitoring. These advancements offer essential technical support for national park development and endangered species management.

International collaborations significantly enhance global influence within the discipline. In 2024, two international symposiums were held, and the Sino-Russian International Joint Laboratory for Tiger and Leopard Conservation and Recovery was established. The launch of the academic journal Wildlife Letters further elevates international cooperation platforms, positioning the discipline as a global leader in wildlife conservation science.

Protected Area Science

Research Directions:

(1) Protected Area Network Systems: Focuses on planning methodologies, functional zoning theories, and network construction strategies.

(2) Protected Area Governance: Examines legislation, institutional capacity building, ecological compensation, community co-management, environmental education, and eco-tourism management.

(3) Protected Area Monitoring and Evaluation: This covers biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem service assessments, ecological security evaluations, and management effectiveness analysis.

(4) Endangered Species Habitat Restoration: Develops theories and technologies for in-situ conservation and habitat rehabilitation of threatened species.

Disciplinary Features:

This discipline addresses China’s strategic needs in nature conservation while engaging with global scientific frontiers. Centered on forest ecosystems, wetlands, and wildlife reserves in Northeast China, it integrates resource monitoring, protected area design, and sustainable management. It explores mechanisms for harmonizing the development of protected areas with socioeconomic growth under socialism with Chinese characteristics.

As an interdisciplinary field that synthesizes biology, ecology, sociology, environmental science, economics, and spatial planning, Protected Area Science supports the national park-centered protected area system. It examines multidimensional conservation challenges across various spatial scales, where theoretical frameworks and practical implementations shape its academic essence.