Academic Forests Are Higher Ed’s Hidden Jewels
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University-owned forests represent an underutilized and underappreciated resource in American higher education, serving as living laboratories for research, teaching, and environmental stewardship. Hundreds of colleges and universities across the country maintain forested lands that support fieldwork in ecology, forestry, biology, and environmental science, yet these properties rarely receive the institutional recognition or funding they deserve. Academic forests provide students with hands-on learning experiences that cannot be replicated in a classroom, and they generate long-term research data on forest health, climate change, and biodiversity that is increasingly valuable to scientists and policymakers. Many of these forests are also open to local communities, providing recreational access and functioning as green space in otherwise developed landscapes. As universities face budget pressures and look to monetize or divest assets, advocates are calling for stronger institutional commitment to preserving and investing in these natural education resources.
Originally published: August 12, 2026
Author: Robert H. Jones
Position: Former Interim President
Institution: Clemson University
Published by: Inside Higher Ed