The department of Forest Engineering and Wood Sciences is one of the six departments in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism of the Sokoine University of Agriculture established in 1984. It was formed by combining two departments namely “Forest Operations Management and Techniques” and “Forest Products and Technology”. The newly formed department has now two sections namely “Forest Engineering” and “Wood Sciences” consisting of 20 academic and 6 non-academic members of staff.
The Department has long experience in offering forest operations courses (harvesting and transportation) and wood related courses (properties: physical, mechanical, chemical, anatomical, and utilization) at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the country and in the East, Central and Southern Africa. The Department is currently pursuing a wide range of basic and applied research projects, consultancy and outreach services on areas that include: timber harvesting, transportation system design, ergonomics and application of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing in forest operations and management under the Forest engineering section. In the Wood Sciences section, the department performs its roles in research projects, consultancy and outreach services in areas which among others include: Wood Anatomy and Quality; Wood Chemistry; Wood Physics; Properties and Utilization of Solid Wood; Wood/timber Protection and Preservation; Wood Energy/Woodfuel; Wood Based Materials; Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs); Sawmilling and Forest Dependence, Livelihood and Climate Change.
Currently the Department is offering 1 Undergraduate Degree Programme (BSc. Wood Technologies and Value Addition) and 2 Master’s Degree Programme (MSc. Forest Engineering and MSc. Forest Products and Technology)
The Department has also a longstanding collaboration with Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS)/Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT), Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI), other governmental organizations and neighboring countries in promoting high quality forest management and utilization in Tanzania. Our commitment has been and will continue to provide services aimed at supporting and implementing forestry policy and regulations through conveying information to practitioners, the public, and policy makers in the field of Forest Operations Management and utilization.