When the rest of the country celebrated the first Earth Day in 1970, it finally caught up with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Since 1911, SUNY-ESF has been preparing scientists, resource managers, designers and engineers to nurture the planet by teaching scientific principles and applications that support the sustainable use of natural resources. Students at ESF share an interest in the environment and in the science, design and engineering required to conserve resources and to improve their world. The college is a leader in the discovery of new knowledge and tools to deal with environmental challenges, and the latest faculty research is aimed at bioprocessing willow trees to produce ethanol.

ESF serves society through instruction, research, and public service related to: understanding the world's ecosystems; developing, managing, and using renewable resources; improving outdoor environments ranging from forests to urban landscapes; and enhancing environmental quality and biodiversity.

As society becomes increasingly concerned about global warming, invasive species, alternative energy needs, and other critical environmental issues, the faculty and students of the ESF family have timing in their favor. Modern society, with its compelling demands from industry and government, needs people who think objectively and constructively, and who act creatively and responsibly. ESF faculty and students are committed to resolving environmental hazards, learning how to avoid future problems, and offering policy alternatives. Student involvement with societal issues is enhanced through a very active community service program and more than 60 service learning courses.

Academic programs at ESF share a foundation of natural science, a dedication to wise use of natural resources, and a focus on career preparation. The faculty's cutting-edge research becomes part of the classroom experience, and the classroom also merges with the world beyond campus. Each program features internships, field study, research projects or cooperative education to provide students with career-related experience. The college's highly rated Landscape Architecture program requires a full semester of off-campus study, with students often choosing to complete design projects at international locations.

Students participate in hands-on and laboratory work at the main campus in Syracuse, and on 25,000 additional acres of ESF property located throughout New York State. The largest regional campus is located on the 15,000-acre Huntington Wildlife Forest in Newcomb.
Faculty, undergraduates, and visiting scientists use the facility for general research and work related to forest management. The Wanakena campus in the Adirondacks is the site of the ESF Ranger School, where the college offers degree programs in Surveying Technology and Forest Technology.

A final unique aspect of ESF is its longstanding partnership with neighboring Syracuse University, where students can take classes to further explore their academic interests, join student organizations, and enjoy all the social advantages of a large university community.