Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources

Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) was established in July 1973 by Legislative Decree No. 87 of 27 July 1973, and started operating during the academic year 1974-1975. It was named "Democritus" in honor of the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus, who hailed from the town of Abdera in Thrace.

The administration of DUTH is headquartered in Komotini, which is the capital city of the Administrative Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

The University is currently operating eight Faculties and nineteen Schools in four cities of Thrace - eight in Komotini, five in Xanthi, four in Alexandroupolis and two in Orestiada. Overall, more than 15,000 students are studying at DUTH at undergraduate and post-graduate level.

The University plays an important role in strengthening the national and cultural identity of the region of Thrace, and contributes to the high level of education in Greece. Relying on the quality of teaching and research level, DUTH has secured a place among the best Greek Universities.

As a Higher Education Institution, DUTH is a Public Entity with complete autonomy that is supervised and funded by the State through the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs.

The academic and administrative bodies of the University are the Board of the University, the Rector and the Senate.

The Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources of the Democritus University of Thrace operates from the city of Orestiada since the academic year 1999-2000, when it first admitted undergraduate students in the first year of studies. Its current enrollment rate is105 freshmen in first year.
The Department was founded by the Presidential Decree 203/99, with the stated goal to:
- Promote the Sciences of Forestry and the Environment with particular emphasis in fostering and advancing scientific knowledge in the area Natural Resource Management, as well as in training of highly qualified personnel capable of investigation, research, and applied use of advanced technologies for the development, improvement, protection and management of forests and forest lands and the natural environment.

Forestry is built on fundamental principles of the Natural Sciences such as Physics, Botany, Zoology, Oryctology, Weather and Climate forecasting, Chemistry and others. It also needs the contribution and support of Theoretical Sciences such as Economics and of Positive sciences such as Mathematics and Informatics whereas applied sciences and engineering, play an equally important role. In this manner, the entity of Forestry is an interdisciplinary structure that combines several related fields. In some cases development of application of Forestry requires collaboration with specialists from other fields, such as engineers, chemists and biologists.

The Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources aims in contributing towards the development of the Science of Forestry through academic training, research, scientific publications and textbook development. Also, through the involvement of its faculty and graduates to help in improved management of forests in Greece and in the protection of the country's natural environment.

The presence of D.U.Th. in the greater area of Thrace, in the province of Evros, and in the remote City of Orestiada prescribes an even more important role for this Department, as a leader in the cultural and intellectual life of the region.