Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.6
2.5
Journals
Forests
Special Issues
Tree- and Shrub-Based Phytoremediation: Pollution Control and Ecosystem Services
share announcement

Tree- and Shrub-Based Phytoremediation: Pollution Control and Ecosystem Services

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Forestry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4508

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dario Liberati

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis Snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Interests: phytoremediation; phytotechnologies; plant ecology; plant ecophysiology
Dr. Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr.

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies, 5985 Highway K, Rhinelander, WI 54501, USA
Interests: bioenergy; biomass; ecophysiology; ecosystem services; forest genetics; intensive forestry; phytotechnologies; short rotation woody crops
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of plants (and associated soil microbes) to reduce the concentrations or toxic effects of contaminants in the environment (phytoremediation) represents an efficient, cost-effective, solar-driven, in situ remediation strategy for contaminated environmental matrixes.

Even if designed for the management of environmental pollution, the tree covers generated for phytoremediation can provide several additional ecosystem services. The large number of contaminated sites existing in the world (2.8 million in Europe and 450000 in the USA, mostly located in urban and peri-urban areas) and the opportunity to reclaim a significant fraction of them with phytoremediation techniques suggest that these “constructed woodlands” may have a great potential for providing a variety of regulating, provisioning, and cultural services. In the European context, phytoremediation can also contribute to meeting the 3 billion additional trees goal set by the EU by 2030.

The aim of this Special Issue is to raise awareness about the relevance of the secondary benefits provided by phytoremediation, and we encourage researchers to submit studies addressing the analysis of these additional services. In the framework of the planning, implementation, and monitoring of phytoremediation interventions, potential topics include the following:

  • Carbon sequestration in biomass and soil;
  • Regulation of urban temperature;
  • Improvement of chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil;
  • Regulation of urban hydrology;
  • Increase in biodiversity at the species and ecosystem levels;
  • Reduction of airborne particulate matter pollution;
  • Production of biomass for bioenergy and conversion into added-value compounds and materials;
  • Aesthetic improvement of the sites;
  • Enhancement of community cohesion;
  • Improvement of psychological and physical health.

Dr. Dario Liberati
Dr. Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr.
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.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • phytotechnologies
  • phytoremediation
  • regulating, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services
  • nature-based solutions
  • carbon sequestration
  • soil fertility
  • urban hydrology regulation
  • species and ecosystem diversity
  • reduction of airborne particulate matter
  • plant biomass production
  • aesthetic value of green areas
  • citizen science
  • citizen health

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 3369 KB  
Article
Particulate Retention, Transfer and Release by Cut and Potted Christmas Trees
by Hanna Moniuszko, Arkadiusz Przybysz, Weronika Połaska, Edmund Jerzy Popek, Natalia Ropelewska and Robert Popek
Forests 2026, 17(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17010010 - 21 Dec 2025
Viewed by 283
Abstract
Coniferous species are known for their ability to purify air from particulate matter (PM), yet particulates accumulated during cultivation, transport, and outdoor storage may be transferred indoors. This study assesses the particulate load, subsequent retention, and further accumulation/release of PM by commercially available [...] Read more.
Coniferous species are known for their ability to purify air from particulate matter (PM), yet particulates accumulated during cultivation, transport, and outdoor storage may be transferred indoors. This study assesses the particulate load, subsequent retention, and further accumulation/release of PM by commercially available Christmas trees—Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) and Caucasian fir (Abies nordmanniana (Steven) Spach). Trees were examined in two commercial forms and maintained in six typical households (three with cut and potted P. abies, three with cut and potted A. nordmanianna) for 30 days. Measurements at four intervals included concentration dynamics of total PM, PM size fractions, as well as surface vs. in-wax PM ratios and epicuticular waxes on needles. Results showed that potted trees carried substantially higher initial PM loads than cut trees, with P. abies exceeding 200 µg·cm−2, likely due to differences in production and handling. Potted P. abies and cut A. nordmanniana retained large PM fractions more effectively than cut P. abies. In contrast, the fine PM fraction, the most health-relevant, was best accumulated by cut P. abies. Wax-bound PM shares increased time in potted trees and decreased in the cut. Overall, the findings suggest that choosing a Christmas tree is not only an aesthetic preference but a decision with measurable implications for winter indoor air quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree- and Shrub-Based Phytoremediation: Pollution Control and Ecosystem Services)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

30 pages, 6143 KB  
Article
Interdisciplinary Approach to Regenerate Contaminated Urban Sites with Novel Ecosystems: The Multi-Layer Analysis of La Goccia Forest, a Case Study in Milan
by Gianluca Rapaccini, Zeno Porro, Laura Passatore, Giovanni Trentanovi, Brenda Maria Zoderer, Paola Pirelli, Lorenzo Guerci, Gabriele Galasso, Lara Assunta Quaglini, Elisa Cardarelli, Silvia Stefanelli, Roberto Comolli, Chiara Ferré, Gabriele Gheza and Massimo Zacchini
Forests 2025, 16(9), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16091410 - 3 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1897
Abstract
In the face of mounting challenges related to limited availability of urban land and ecological degradation, emerging novel ecosystems offer unique opportunities for ecological regeneration, social redefinition of space, and alternative urban visions. This study presents the multi-layer analysis of the Goccia Forest [...] Read more.
In the face of mounting challenges related to limited availability of urban land and ecological degradation, emerging novel ecosystems offer unique opportunities for ecological regeneration, social redefinition of space, and alternative urban visions. This study presents the multi-layer analysis of the Goccia Forest in Milan (Italy), a wild urban woodland that has developed over sealed and polluted post-industrial land, aiming to investigate the potential of this novel ecosystem to sustain Nature-based Solutions (NbSs). Using an integrated approach (surveys on fauna, vascular flora, lichens, analysis of forest evolution, mapping of sealed surfaces, and soil characterization) the research looks at the novel ecosystem as a whole, highlighting its ecological dynamics and Ecosystem Services (ES). La Goccia Forest serves as a prime example of how the implementation of NbSs is intricately intertwined with the spontaneous regeneration of urban brownfields. The present study offers the opportunity to rethink urban policies, ensuring their alignment with the demands of the population and the latest scientific knowledge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree- and Shrub-Based Phytoremediation: Pollution Control and Ecosystem Services)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2959 KB  
Article
Exogenous Salicylic Acid Alleviates Physiological Stress in Salix matsudana Seedlings and Increases 2,4-Dinitrophenol Removal
by Chen Wu, Liudong Zhang, Yikang Fu, Guilong Fu, Degang Fu, Hui Li, Shuai Su, Huicheng Xie, Hui Tian, Ruijiang Wang and Kun Li
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081392 - 9 Aug 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1323
Abstract
2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) is a new kind of pollutant that is highly toxic and difficult to be biodegraded. In this study, the feasibility of using exogenous growth regulator salicylic acid (SA) to improve the purification ability of Salix matsudana (S. matsudana) seedlings to [...] Read more.
2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) is a new kind of pollutant that is highly toxic and difficult to be biodegraded. In this study, the feasibility of using exogenous growth regulator salicylic acid (SA) to improve the purification ability of Salix matsudana (S. matsudana) seedlings to 2,4-DNP stress was investigated by a hydroponic simulation experiment. The main research results are as follows: (1) After adding exogenous SA, a high concentration of SA (1000 mg·L−1) inhibited the photosynthetic process and the normal physiological process of the chlorophyll fluorescence system of S. matsudana seedlings to a certain extent. When adding a low concentration of SA (10 mg·L−1) to treat S. matsudana seedlings, all exogenous treatment groups could alleviate the stress of 2,4-DNP on the photosynthetic system and chlorophyll fluorescence system of S. matsudana seedlings, and 10 mg·L−1 SA (DNP + S1) was the best. (2) The addition of exogenous SA could alleviate the damage of 2,4-DNP to S. matsudana seedlings by enhancing the activity of its antioxidant enzymes to remove excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body and reducing the level of membrane lipid peroxidation and the size of membrane damage. The treatment with 10 mg·L−1 SA had the best effect. (3) Exogenous low concentration of SA (10 mg·L−1) could alleviate the decline of biomass index of S. matsudana seedlings under 2,4-DNP stress, but a high concentration of SA (1000 mg·L−1) could not alleviate the 2,4-DNP toxicity of S. matsudana seedlings leaves. Exogenous SA could effectively alleviate the growth damage caused by 2,4-DNP stress on S. matsudana seedlings and increase the tolerance threshold range of S. matsudana seedlings to 2,4-DNP (8.81–33.78 mg·L−1). (4) Exogenous addition of SA could increase the removal percentage of 2,4-DNP in Salix matsudana seedlings. Among them, the removal percentage of Salix matsudana was the highest at 10 mg·L−1 SA, which was 1.46 times (5 days) and 1.19 times (10 days) higher than that of the DNP treatment group, respectively. Overall, when SA reached 10 mg·L−1, the photosynthetic productivity of S. matsudana was the highest, and S. matsudana had the best purification effect on 2,4-DNP in wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree- and Shrub-Based Phytoremediation: Pollution Control and Ecosystem Services)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 1695 KB  
Review
The Multifunctional Role of Salix spp.: Linking Phytoremediation, Forest Therapy, and Phytomedicine for Environmental and Human Benefits
by Giovanni N. Roviello
Forests 2025, 16(12), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16121808 - 2 Dec 2025
Viewed by 372
Abstract
Air pollution, soil contamination, and rising illness demand integrated, nature-based solutions. Willow trees (Salix spp.) uniquely combine ecological resilience with therapeutic value, remediating polluted environments while supporting human well-being. This review synthesizes recent literature on the established role of Salix spp. in [...] Read more.
Air pollution, soil contamination, and rising illness demand integrated, nature-based solutions. Willow trees (Salix spp.) uniquely combine ecological resilience with therapeutic value, remediating polluted environments while supporting human well-being. This review synthesizes recent literature on the established role of Salix spp. in phytoremediation and growing contribution to forest therapy through emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). As urbanization accelerates and environmental pressures intensify globally, the surprising adaptability and multifunctionality of Salix justify the utilization of this genus in building resilient and health-promoting ecosystems. The major points discussed in this work include willow-based phytoremediation strategies, such as rhizodegradation, phytoextraction, and phytostabilization, contributing to restoring even heavily polluted soils, especially when combined with specific strategies of microbial augmentation and trait-based selection. Salix plantations and even individual willow trees may contribute to forest therapy (and ‘forest bathing’ approaches) through volatile compounds emitted by Salix spp. such as ocimene, β-caryophyllene, and others, which exhibit neuroprotective (against Parkinson’s disease), anti-inflammatory, and mood-enhancing properties. Willow’s significantly extended foliage season in temperate regions allows for prolonged ‘forest bathing’ opportunities, enhancing passive therapeutic engagement in urban green infrastructures. Remarkably, the pharmacological potential of willow extends beyond salicin, encompassing a diverse array of phytocompounds with applications in phytomedicine. Finally, willow’s ease of propagation and adaptability make this species a convenient solution for multifunctional landscape design, where ecological restoration and human well-being converge. Overall, this review demonstrates the integrative value of Salix spp. as a keystone genus in sustainable landscape planning, combining remarkable environmental resilience with therapeutic benefits. Future studies should explore standardized methods to evaluate the combined ecological and therapeutic performance of Salix spp., integrating long-term field monitoring with analyses of BVOC emissions under varying environmental stresses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree- and Shrub-Based Phytoremediation: Pollution Control and Ecosystem Services)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop