Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline
Forests
can make significant contributions to the economy and provide multiple products
and services that support livelihoods and protect the environment. It also makes
significant contribution to biodiversity conservation and climate change
mitigation. However, forests and forest resources of Bangladesh have been
changing rapidly due to the land use changes and social demands. The protection
and production functions of forest must be sustained through sound forest
management. Sound management requires quality forestry professional with cutting-edge
education and knowledge. Hence, Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline
launched its academic activities in 1992 with a view to produce quality
forestry professionals.
The
opening of Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline of Khulna University has
been well thought and appropriate because of its close proximity to the
Sundarbans, the largest single tract mangrove forests of the world, which
accounts for 40% of the state-owned forest in Bangladesh. It is well known for
its amazingly rich biodiversity and protection against the natural calamities.
This is very crucial time for us to protect such important resources to save
our life and property. Therefore, our faculties are continuously focusing
researches on the Sundarbans. Given the geographic considerations, our mission
is to provide quality education and research on mangroves, social and
agroforestry, forest tree improvement and forest products innovation and
utilization along with due and balanced thrust in core forestry areas in
curriculum and courses.
Forestry
and Wood Technology discipline is one of the pioneer disciplines of Khulna
University and second institution of its kind in Bangladesh offering a 4-year
Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Forestry, 1-year Master in Forestry and also offering
PhD degree. The discipline is conducting timely and country needed research in
the field of forest science and wood technology that contributes to the
sustainable management of forest resources. The program is specially designed
to produce competent professionals who are able to think critically and lead in
forest science and wood technological development. The multidisciplinary
approach in education, research and entrepreneurship enable our faculty and
students to work closely with industry, governments and academia to address the
current issues in forest science and wood technology. We groom our students
with great care and innovative thinking in forestry. While focusing on
innovative education in forestry, the learning process places great emphasis on
close cooperation between teachers and students to meet the constant challenges
of forest science and wood technology. Our education can help you understand
how to grasp the present and enlighten your future. Since its inception, the
discipline has produced a large number quality forestry professional. Graduates
of this discipline have already acquired fame in professional arenas as well as
in non-professional job markets. Our graduates are competent to meet the future
challenges of forestry and environmental issues of the country and the globe as
a whole.
The discipline has twenty-four faculty members. Most of them received their higher degrees (MS & PhD) from World reputed universities. Most of the faculties are engaged in country demand and need based research in forest science and wood technology especially forest ecology, biodiversity, agro-forestry, forest governance, bio-energy, bio-based nanocomposites which have already earned recognition both nationally and internationally. The faculties also handled a good number of funded projects including World Bank, FAO, USAID, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Ministry of Education, Bangladesh, Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh and so on. FWT discipline has established six world class laboratories namely Nutrient dynamics Lab, Bio-nanomaterial Lab, Wood analysis lab, Wood Products lab, Bio-energy lab and Eco-physiology Lab with ample of most modern equipment. We have built linkage with various forest related organizations namely Forest Department, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Cooperation (BFIDC) and Wood-based Industries in Bangladesh. Besides, we have collaborated with different universities and research organizations in home and abroad. We have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Bio-materials center, LIPI, Research Institute of Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH), Kyoto University, Japan.