Supply, Trade and Consumption of Forest Products

Dear Colleagues,

Forests are dynamic ecosystems that provide a wide range of essential products and services, from a supply of renewable raw materials to climate regulation and the enhancement of human physical and psychological well-being. They represent a key element and a means of subsistence for many economies, offering not only wood-based products such as timber, panels, pulp, paper, and bioenergy, but also a wide variety of non-wood forest products that contribute significantly to livelihoods, nutrition, and local economies, such as mushrooms, truffles, nuts, gums, saps, and resins. As the global population and consumption pressures continue to rise, the challenge lies in reconciling the short-term economic benefits derived from forest exploitation with the long-term goals of environmental and social sustainability. Understanding global trade trends in wood and non-wood forest products is therefore crucial, as these dynamics may influence—and be influenced by—changes in forest resources, including potential shifts, substitutions, or losses related to deforestation and forest degradation. In the context of rapid environmental change and evolving socioeconomic conditions, sustainable forest management stands as a central pillar for integrating economic development with environmental responsibility. It calls for evidence-based practices and policies capable of ensuring that forests continue to thrive and provide their multiple benefits to present and future generations. This Special Issue welcomes contributions from all disciplines—including experimental research, monitoring methodologies, and modelling approaches—with the aim of advancing knowledge and developing adaptive strategies for the conservation, active management, and sustainable development, for both present and future, of forests and their products.

Dr. Stefano Bruzzese
Prof. Dr. Francesco Negro
Dr. Isabella De Meo
Dr. Alessandro Paletto
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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