Conservation and Management of Forest Wildlife

1. Introduction

As shown in M. L. Hunter (Jr.)’s seminal book Wildlife, Forests and Forestry: Principles of Managing Forests for Biodiversity, published in 1990 [1], and Forest Wildlife Management and Conservation, by D. B. Lindenmayer, published in 2009 [2], forests are essential habitats for biodiversity. Understanding forest wildlife ecology is key to the successful conservation and management of species and communities, balancing conservation, human interests, wildlife use, and wildlife appreciation. Any forest management action can affect the availability and quality of resources for forest wildlife populations, and scientific knowledge will therefore improve wildlife management and conservation strategies.

The aims for this Special Issue were to increase knowledge on the conservation and management of forest wildlife, including, but not limited to, issues related to forests as wildlife habitats (fragmentation, degradation, specialized species) sensu [3], human conflicts with forest fauna and increasing wildlife acceptance [4,5], and the monitoring of forest fauna and flora.

Five papers were published in this Special Issue of Forests.

2. An Overview of Published Articles

The five reviewed articles from the Forests journal align with the goals of the Special Issue in various ways. The study by Llanos-Guerrero et al. directly contributes to understanding forests as wildlife habitats and the effects of resource availability by examining how seed dynamics shape small mammal populations across a 10-year span, addressing both monitoring and climate-related impacts on forest fauna. Such interactions are essential for ecosystem function. The study revealed species-specific dynamics shaped by foraging behavior and life history traits. Wood and yellow-necked mice responded rapidly to seed fall, while bank voles responded more slowly, and shrews exhibited indirect effects. These results highlight the importance of considering species interactions, resource pulses, and climate change when managing and conserving forest ecosystems [6].

Climate change and habitat degradation are rapidly transforming forest ecosystems, threatening biodiversity and the ecological functions they support. The Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) is a keystone species in Iran’s Zagros forests and exemplifies this vulnerability due to its strong dependence on oak-dominated woodlands and its role in seed dispersal. In response to increasing forest mortality caused by drought and anthropogenic pressures, Ghadirian Baharanchi et al. developed a spatial conservation prioritization framework that integrates habitat suitability with forest mortality risk to guide strategic interventions [7].

Freschi et al. complemented this research by investigating the nesting ecology of black storks (Ciconia nigra) in forested cliff environments. They highlighted how habitat specificity and human-induced disturbances influence breeding success. This highly sensitive species is endangered in Italy, where only 36 nesting pairs have been recorded. This study is the first to document the nesting behavior of a pair in Basilicata, where the species uniquely nests on cliffs. Video analysis from the 2012 breeding season revealed intensive brooding and parental care, particularly after hatching. These results suggest that the black stork population in the region could recover with proper protection of nesting and feeding habitats from human interference [8].

Together, these two studies emphasize the urgent need for science-based conservation planning that considers species-specific habitat requirements, forest health dynamics, and spatial prioritization when managing biodiversity under changing environmental conditions.

The two other studies [9,10] support conservation priorities, particularly in the monitoring of forest fauna and understanding human–wildlife dynamics. Jasiulionis et al. used country-wide camera trapping to track the spread and seasonal activity of the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), revealing that species is widely distributed across Lithuania’s forested habitats. The study found that raccoon dogs remain active in forests year-round, including in the winter. This is likely due to milder temperatures caused by climate change. This suggests that warmer winters are enabling the species to expand and persist in Lithuania’s forested landscapes, further facilitating its expansion [9].

Balčiauskas et al. conducted a detailed analysis of roadkill data across Lithuania, revealing long-term patterns of mammal mortality, particularly among forest species such as roe deer and wild boar, and linking these patterns to traffic intensity and seasonal behavior. This research highlights both the long-term monitoring of forest fauna and the indirect human impacts on wildlife populations [10].

Both studies emphasize the importance of sustained monitoring and informed management in addressing the multifaceted challenges facing forest ecosystems.

3. Concluding Remarks

The findings published in Special Issue [6,7,8,9,10] are important for managing the ecological consequences of invasive species and human-altered landscapes, as the most recent publications suggest.

Though forest disturbances, both natural and human-driven, are increasing in Europe due to climate change and land-use history, their long-term effects on biodiversity remain understudied. The long-term forest bird community monitoring data [11] across Germany suggest that growing disturbance regimes are reshaping forest bird communities, with implications for conservation planning and species prioritization.

Although camera traps are widely used for wildlife monitoring, a decade-long review of their use revealed limitations in scalability and data analysis [12]. Despite initial growth, camera usage plateaued due to persistent biases toward certain taxa and regions, limited adoption of advanced analytical methods, and significant challenges in collaboration and data sharing. The initiative to transform camera traps into a more effective, large-scale tool for conservation and biodiversity management would benefit from incorporating even the most local studies.

Finally, the socially learned behaviors in both humans and wildlife are central to effective biodiversity conservation, especially in forest ecosystems where human–wildlife interactions are frequent. Understanding cultural dynamics can help reduce conflicts and guide more adaptive, targeted conservation strategies that reflect the needs and behaviors of both people and animals [13].