Universidad Nacional de Ciencias Forestales

What Universidad Nacional de Ciencias Forestales does

Universidad Nacional de Ciencias Forestales (UNACIFOR) is a public, autonomous, non-profit state university of Honduras, founded in 1969 and headquartered in Siguatepeque, Comayagua. It is the only higher education institution in Central America exclusively dedicated to forestry and environmental sciences, offering five undergraduate programs (Forestry Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, Wood Industry and Business Engineering, Sustainable Tourism Technician, and Forestry Technician) and two master's programs (Renewable Energy; Environmental Structures Management). The institution operates under the "Aprender Produciendo" (Learning by Producing) model, anchored by approximately 6,348 hectares of natural laboratories spanning pine, dry, humid, tropical, and latifoliado forest ecosystems, complemented by the Jardín Botánico y Centro de Investigación Lancetilla in Tela, the Banco de Semillas Forestales (BASE), a meteorological station, and two experimental stations (La Soledad and San Juan).

The university's extended product surface includes the Centro Integral de Capacitaci\u00f3n Forestal (CICAFOR), which delivers professional diplomas and certifications such as Environmental Services Provider (PSA) and Water Governance and Micro-basin Planning, alongside the scientific journal Revista TATASCÁN. UNACIFOR is governed by a Consejo de Dirección Universitario (CDU) and financed primarily through public funds from the Government of Honduras, with supplementary income from CICAFOR professional training, international cooperation agreements, and academic journal activities. Its customer base spans domestic and international students, working professionals pursuing continuing education, and partner universities and research institutions.

UNACIFOR is a member of the Central American higher education integration system through CSUCA and its affiliated bodies (SIREICU, SIESCA, CONREVE), and maintains strategic alliances with IESALC/UNESCO, the Korean Forest Promotion Institute (KOFPI), the U.S. Forest Service, ARIUSA, and Universidad de Málaga, among others. In 2025 the institution underwent a leadership transition with the inauguration of Rector Dr. Miguel Ángel Velásquez Gonzáles for the 2025-2029 period, alongside an unusually dense cluster of new cooperation agreements and convening of regional academic forums, signaling an active expansion of its international and ecosystem positioning.

Name

Universidad Nacional de Ciencias Forestales

Legal name

Universidad Nacional de Ciencias Forestales

Website

https://unacifor.edu.hn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UNACIFOR is a public Honduran state university, founded in 1969 and based in Siguatepeque, specializing in forestry and environmental sciences education, research, and professional certification across Central America. It serves undergraduate, graduate, and professional continuing-education students using 6,348 hectares of natural forest laboratories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Forestry and Environmental Sciences

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO), Forest Certification, Compliance & Chain-of-Custody Support (AFAMAAAH)

Keywords

• Forestry higher education
• Environmental sciences education
• Renewable energy engineering
• Sustainable tourism training
• Wood industry management

Headquarters

HQ city

Siguatepeque

HQ country

Honduras

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Public autonomous university delivering undergraduate and graduate education in forestry sciences, environmental management, renewable energy, sustainable tourism, and wood industry management. Operates approximately 6,348 hectares of natural laboratory ecosystems and runs CICAFOR, a professional training and certification center for environmental services and water governance.

Product overview

UNACIFOR is a public, autonomous, non-profit higher education institution specializing in forest sciences, environmental studies, and sustainable development. Its portfolio includes undergraduate and graduate academic programs in forestry engineering, sustainable tourism, renewable energy, and wood industry. The institution operates research facilities including the Jardín Botánico Lancetilla (botanical garden), seed bank, university nursery, meteorological station, and experimental stations. CICAFOR provides professional training and certification programs. The university follows the principle 'Aprender Produciendo' (Learning by Producing) with approximately 6,348 hectares of natural laboratories including pine forest, dry forest, humid forest, tropical forest, and broadleaf forest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs (Carreras de Pregrado)
• Graduate Master's Programs (Maestrías)
• CICAFOR Professional Training and Certification
• Jardín Botánico y Centro de Investigación Lancetilla
• Banco de Semillas Forestales (BASE)
• Vivero Universitario (University Nursery)

Quantifiable outcome

• 122 new professionals graduated in 2025 across forestry, renewable energy, and wood industry programs.
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Better Wood ProductsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Annual reforestation partnership celebrating 15 consecutive years of joint reforestation events. The collaboration demonstrates unwavering commitment to environment and academic formation through sustainable forestry practices.
• Universidad de Defensa de Honduras (UDH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2025Academic cooperation agreement for personnel exchange, joint research, mutual support in extension programs, project development, and academic information sharing. The agreement aims to strengthen academic, scientific, and cultural relations between both institutions for the benefit of Honduran society.
• IESALC/UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2025Five-year cooperation agreement signed between UNACIFOR and the International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC/UNESCO) to promote and strengthen higher education and human development in the region. The alliance establishes a legal framework for mutual collaboration to drive professional training, research, and academic mobility.
• KOFPI (Instituto de Promoción Forestal Coreano / Korea Forest Promotion Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025Collaboration through which KOFPI delivered an international conference on forest carbon markets and REDD+. The partnership includes visits to university forests and nurseries, reinforcing UNACIFOR's commitment to green transformation and sustainable development.
• Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico (SDE)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2025UNACIFOR joined historic framework agreement for Programa Alianza País, Estrategia Nacional de Comercialización Agrícola (ENCAH), and Industrial Policy alongside SDE, ANDI, COHEP, and eight higher education institutions. Two-year agreement with renewal options.
• Cámara Nacional de Turismo de Honduras (CANATURH) Filial ComayaguamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2023Specific cooperation agreement for the development of La Soledad Experimental Station as a tourism and forestry destination. The partnership aims to harmonize legal frameworks and contribute effectively to sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and rural development.
• Compañía Azucarera Tres VallesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2022Framework cooperation agreement to strengthen the link between private enterprise and academia through strategic alliance for joint activities benefiting society. The agreement facilitates exchange of publications, symposia, conferences, courses, diplomas, seminars, internships, research funding, and joint program initiatives.
• Secretaría para el Desarrollo y Seguimiento de Proyectos y Acuerdos (SEDESPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance between UNACIFOR and SEDESPA to establish agreements and develop strategies for successful project execution and achievement of program objectives. The partnership focuses on conflict resolution mechanisms and project development support.
• ARIUSA (Alianza de Redes Iberoamericanas Universitarias por la Sustentabilidad y el Ambiente)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNACIFOR hosted the V Ibero-American Forum on University Sustainability organized in collaboration with ARIUSA. The forum gathered experts and academics from Iberoamerica to address sustainability integration challenges and best practices in higher education.
• RUOHSA (Red de Universidades y Organizaciones Hondureñas por la Sustentabilidad y el Ambiente)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the V Ibero-American Forum on University Sustainability alongside ARIUSA and UNACIFOR, focusing on sustainability and environmental protection in higher education.
• CSUCA (Consejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNACIFOR is an active member institution of CSUCA, participating in regional assemblies (SIREICU, SIESCA, CONREVE) and contributing to Central American higher education integration.
• Red INCA CentroaméricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNACIFOR faculty participated in COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) methodology workshop at Universidad Luterana Salvadoreña, with 23 representatives from member institutions. The workshop prepares faculty to implement international collaborative learning starting 2026.
• SIREICU (Sistema Regional de Información y Comunicación Universitaria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNACIFOR participated actively in the X General Assembly of SIREICU at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, contributing to regional university communication strategy and receiving recognition in the first SIREICU Awards.
• Universidad de Málaga (UMA), EspañamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven Sustainable Tourism students from University of Málaga conducted internships at Lancetilla Botanical Garden and Fort San Fernando de Omoa, developing projects on heritage awareness and sustainable tourism development in collaboration with UNACIFOR and UTH students.
• Plan Sierra, República DominicanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNACIFOR initiated specialized training program for Plan Sierra technical delegation at the Forest Seeds Bank (BASE), strengthening international technical cooperation and promoting sustainable forestry practices.
• Ministerio Público de HondurasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-institutional cooperation agreement for specialized training and professional development through the School of Criminalistics, focused on academic formation and capacity building.
• ANDI (Asociación Nacional de Industriales)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership within the historic framework agreement for industrial development and economic growth in Honduras, collaborating on education, innovation, and productive sector strengthening.
• COHEP (Consejo Hondureño de la Empresa Privada)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership within the historic framework agreement for industrial policy and agricultural commercialization strategy, working with private sector leadership on sustainable development initiatives.
• UICN (Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner in the Diploma on Water Governance and Micro-basin Planning at CICAFOR, supporting capacity development for water resource management and environmental governance.
• Bioversity International y CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner in the Diploma on Water Governance and Micro-basin Planning, contributing expertise in agricultural research and biodiversity conservation.
• UDUALC (Unión de Universidades de América Latina y el Caribe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNACIFOR participates in UDUALC assemblies and regional activities, contributing to Latin American and Caribbean university integration and cooperation initiatives.
• SIESCA (Sistema de Internacionalización de la Educación Superior Centroamericana)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNACIFOR hosted the XXIV Ordinary Session of SIESCA, bringing together higher education representatives from Central America to strengthen internationalization of regional higher education.
• CONREVE (Consejo Regional de Vida Estudiantil)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNACIFOR hosted the LV Ordinary Session of CONREVE, supporting student life strengthening and regional integration as part of CSUCA activities.
• Servicio Forestal de Estados UnidosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLetter of understanding signed for training youth in natural resource conservation and biodiversity with emphasis on reducing migration and improving livelihoods.
• Universidad de El Salvador (UES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Pre-International Congress on Higher Education 2022 through the Interdisciplinary Doctorate Program in Higher Education, promoting academic exchange and educational quality improvement.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC): Guatemala's national public university with forestry and environmental engineering programs. Comparable as a Central American public university offering forestry education, though much broader in scope.

Direct peers

• CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza): Costa Rica-based graduate center dedicated to tropical agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management. Closest comparable institution in Central America, with overlapping forestry-education and research mandate, master's programs, and international donor partnerships.
• Universidad Autónoma Chapingo: Mexican public agricultural university with forestry and renewable natural resources programs. Comparable as a Latin American public university offering forestry engineering and environmental sciences degrees.
• Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR): Costa Rica's leading technological university, which operates an Engineering in Forestry program and conducts applied forestry research. Comparable regional forestry-engineering education provider.
• Universidade Federal de Viçosa: Brazilian federal university renowned for forestry, wood technology, and environmental sciences programs. Comparable as a leading Latin American forestry-engineering higher-education institution.
• Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina: Peru's principal agricultural university with forestry and environmental sciences faculties. Comparable as a Latin American public university producing forestry professionals and conducting forest research.
• Universidad EARTH: Costa Rica-based private university focused on agricultural sciences, natural resource management, and sustainable development. Comparable as a Central American higher-education institution dedicated to environmental and forestry-related disciplines.

Others

• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH): Honduras' flagship public university, providing the broader national higher-education context. Comparable as a domestic peer institution but does not focus on forestry sciences.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon State University — College of Forestry: One of the oldest and most prominent forestry schools in the Americas. Comparable as a forestry-dedicated academic unit with extensive forest research stations and global partnerships.

Emerging players

• Universidad Nacional de Colombia — sede Medellín: Hosts one of Latin America's leading forestry-engineering faculties with significant research output. Comparable as a forestry-education and tropical-forest research provider, though operating at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unaciforhn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcoa_0FU0eLKJBR7nudKo_Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/UNACIFORHN
• Instagraminstagram.com/unaciforhn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unaciforhn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Universidad Nacional de Ciencias Forestales