The MSU Department of Forestry will be kicking off its year-long centennial anniversary festivities with a symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Kellogg Center.

This month marks the 100th anniversary of the forestry baccalaureate program at MSU - making it the oldest continuous forestry curriculum in the United States.

“We are excited about it because there will be distinguished speakers attending,” said Daniel Keathley, chairperson of the Department of Forestry.

Speakers for the event include professors from forestry departments at other universitites.

Their speeches will be centered around the idea of the role forestry is going to play in the 21st century. Each speaker will be followed by a panel discussion.

The forestry program was built in response to fires that damaged parts of Michigan in the 1800s.

After the trees were cut down, foresters were needed to maintain a balance between conserving the forests and using them to produce materials.

“We have helped the forests of Michigan come back,” forestry Professor Donald Dickmann said.

“That makes me feel good to be a part of that tradition of conservation.”

MSU has 2,000 acres of fields and forests and a collection of more than 7,000 species of trees and shrubs.

Forestry conservation senior Chris Gibbons said he is excited about the celebration because it will give the department a chance to show off one of the best programs in the country.

“This is our chance to shine,” Gibbons said. “We will take the 100-year celebration and run with it.”

Gibbons said the event will highlight the achievements of the department.

Dickmann said the celebration is important to the economy of Michigan.

“A lot of jobs and prosperity comes from these forests,” he said.

“Every time you go to recreate in a forest there is some forester looking after those woods, and that’s important.”

Kelli Cynecki and Chrystal Griffin