The historical development and establishment of forest engineering as a knowledge-intensive field within the forestry production have been examined, showing how it evolved in response to the economic needs of many developed countries and historical challenges faced by the forestry sector at various stages of development. Special attention is paid to the development of forest engineering education in Ukraine, from the establishment of the Regional School of Forestry in Lviv to the functioning of the National Forestry University of Ukraine – the country's only multifunctional higher education institution specializing in forestry technology. The contributions of prominent forest engineering scientists and the graduate department's systematic work in professional training for the forestry sector are highlighted. The material outlines current trends in forest engineering development, its decisive role in the technical and technological support of sustainable forestry development, and the efficient forest resource utilization.