Forest Ecology and Management
A section of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907).
Section Information
This Section focuses on advancing the understanding and sustainable management of forest ecosystems through integrated ecological and silvicultural research. It welcomes studies that explore the autecology of forest plants, including growth dynamics, phenology, pollen and seed dispersal, and species-specific responses to environmental factors. Contributions addressing population and forest dynamics, whether empirical or modeling-based, are encouraged to elucidate mechanisms of competition, succession, and community evolution toward climax states.
Research on forest ecosystem structures and functioning—covering biodiversity patterns, ecological niches, biogeochemical cycles, and processes such as primary productivity, respiration, and nutrient fluxes—forms a core part of this Section. Submissions that examine symbiotic associations (e.g., mycorrhizae, lichens), the ecological role of bryophytes, and forest necromass are particularly welcome. The Section also values work on biotic and abiotic stressors, including drought, pollutants, invasive species, and extreme climatic events, as well as studies on forest resilience, adaptation, and disturbance regimes such as wildfires, pests, or windthrows.
From an applied perspective, this Section emphasizes forest management strategies aimed at balancing productivity, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. Topics include forest management plans that enhance wood production, biodiversity, or climate adaptation, and strategies for the restoration, reforestation, and afforestation of degraded lands. Research addressing forest degradation, post-fire recovery, necromass management, and the management of forests in protected areas is also relevant. Attention is given to ecosystem services—notably carbon sequestration, soil and water regulation, and habitat provision—and their quantification, monitoring, and management under changing environmental conditions. Finally, studies employing bioindicators, dendrochronology, and other diagnostic tools to assess forest responses to climate change are highly valued.
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Pollen Monitoring of Forest Communities (Deadline: 20 December 2025)
- Ecological Preferences and Bioindicative Role of Bryophytes in Forest Ecosystems (Deadline: 20 December 2025)
- Advances in Forest Carbon Sequestration and Emission Reduction Potential (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Tropical Forest Ecology Monitoring—New Techniques and Future Implications (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Advancing Forest Ecosystem Sustainability: Integrating Plant Physiology, Microbial Ecology, and Spatial Technologies (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Tree-Ring Analysis: Response and Adaptation to Climate Change (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Ecology of Forested Wetlands (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Non-Native Species in Forest Ecosystems (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Seed Dispersal by Animals in Forests (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Advanced Research in Lauraceae Plants: From Foundations to Applications (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Growth and Stand Dynamics of Unmanaged and Managed Forests Under Global Change (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Interactions of Plants, Soil Nutrients, and Microorganisms in the Karst Forest Ecosystems (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Degraded Forest Carbon Sink Restoration and Sustainable Management of Forest Carbon Sinks (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Biomass Estimation and Carbon Stocks in Forest Ecosystems: 3rd Edition (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Growth and Photosynthetic Responses of Seedlings Under Climate Change in Forests (Deadline: 20 January 2026)
- Forest Conservation: Natural Resources and Biotechnological Strategies (Deadline: 30 January 2026)
- Seed Dispersal by Animals in Natural and Human-Impacted Forest Communities (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Mangrove Forest Ecosystems: Present Status, Challenges, and Future Directions (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Multiple-Use and Ecosystem Services of Forests—3rd Edition (Deadline: 10 February 2026)
- Forest Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Under Climate Variation (Deadline: 20 February 2026)
- Climate Change Impacts on Forest Dynamics: Use of Modern Technology (Deadline: 25 February 2026)
- Climate Change Effects on Forest and Peatland Ecosystems (Deadline: 27 February 2026)
- Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Forests That Heal: Importance of Medicinal Trees and Forest Understory Plants Conservation and Use (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Wildlife in Altered Forestry Habitats: Implications for Conservation and Applications (Deadline: 20 March 2026)
- Ecological Responses of Forests to Climate Change (Deadline: 30 March 2026)
- Mangrove Ecosystems in the Face of Climate Change: Resilience, Adaptation, and Conservation Strategies (Deadline: 30 March 2026)
- Guidelines for Sustainable Forest Management: Vegetation and Soil and Water Conservation in Arid Areas (Deadline: 15 April 2026)
- Advances in Forest Tree Seedling Cultivation Technology—2nd Edition (Deadline: 20 April 2026)
- Forest Restoration for Resilient Landscapes and Enhanced Ecosystem Services (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Recent Advances in Agroforestry Ecosystems (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- The Role of Forests in Carbon Cycles, Sequestration, and Storage (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Forest Tree Seed and Seedling Production (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Secondary Succession in Forest Ecosystems (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Afforestation of Degraded Lands (Deadline: 8 May 2026)
- The Role of Bryophytes and Lichens in Forest Ecosystem Dynamics (Deadline: 18 May 2026)
- The Conservation and Management of Agro- and Forest Ecosystems in a Changing Climate—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 May 2026)
- Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Advances in Forest Restoration and Applied Conservation: Bridging Science and Practice (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Forests in Protected Areas: Removing Threats and Improving Preservation (2nd Edition) (Deadline: 31 May 2026)
- Functional Ecology of Mangroves (Deadline: 12 June 2026)
- Mangrove Wetland Restoration and Rehabilitation Under Climate Change and Human Cumulative Impacts in the 21st Century (Deadline: 25 June 2026)
- From Past to Present: Mangroves of the Northern Neotropics (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Impacts of Climate Change and Forest Management on Forest Carbon and Nitrogen Budgets (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Consequences of Land Use on the Conservation of Forest Ecosystems: Challenges and Solutions (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Degradation and Restoration of Tropical Forests (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Forest Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Management (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Ecological Research in Bamboo Forests: 3rd Edition (Deadline: 15 July 2026)
- Forest Ecosystem Dynamics, Carbon-Nitrogen Cycling and Environmental Systems (Deadline: 20 July 2026)
- Drought Impacts on Wood Anatomy and Tree Growth (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Functions of Biochar in Carbon Emission and Carbon Sequestration in Forest Ecosystems, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Effect of Climate Change on the Growth and Distribution of Tree Species in Mediterranean Forests (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- The Role of Soil Fauna and Microbial Communities in Forests (Deadline: 1 August 2026)
- Forests as Nature-Based Solutions: Ecosystem Services, Multiple Benefits, and Trade-Offs—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 August 2026)