When the University of Michigan became the nation's first institution to teach a course in forestry in 1881, its leaders offered it through the School of Political Science. To professors, it was only natural to study forests not only as a physical feature, but also as an important influence on society, public policy and the economy. From the 1881 "Science of Forestry" course to today's fully established school of 580 students and 50 faculty, the School of Natural Resources and the Environment has continually been at the forefront of environmental education.

Our roots are in forestry, the first environmental concern of a nation rapidly consuming timber to meet its development and expansion. The U-M Department of Forestry was established in 1903, giving us reason to celebrate our centennial in 2003.

In 1927, the Department grew into the School of Forestry and Conservation to become the first of its kind in the country. The word "conservation" was added to stress forestry's relevance to the national economy - a philosophy we continue to embrace as we promote environmental stewardship. We established another academic first when, in 1950, we became the School of Natural Resources. We added "Environment" to our name in 1992 to better reflect our range of activities.

Today over 7,000 people have earned degrees from the School of Natural Resources & Environment. Our alumni can be found around the world, leading non-profit wildlife and fisheries organizations, fashioning critical public policies, developing properties ranging from golf courses to brownfields, and helping business and industry achieve a proper balance between economic stability and protection of natural resources. Today we are embarking on yet another new approach to environmental research and conservation at the University of Michigan. This is both our legacy and our challenge for years to come.