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Forests
Special Issues
Forest Ecotourism: Balancing Recreation, Conservation, and Local Development
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Forest Ecotourism: Balancing Recreation, Conservation, and Local Development

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 1041

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Agata Kobyłka

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Guest Editor
Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Interests: nature tourism; nature conservation; education and management in natural areas; health and nature
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mariusz Ciesielski

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Guest Editor
Department of Geomatics, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland
Interests: urban forestry; remote sensing; ecosystem services; urban planning; spatial planning; trees
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anna Mazurek-Kusiak

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Guest Editor
Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 15 Akademicka Str., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Interests: tourism
Dr. Natalia Korcz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Forest Research Institute, Department of Geomatics, 05-090 Sękocin Stary, Poland
Interests: nature tourism; forest therapy; forestry; nature education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forest ecotourism is a growing field that integrates environmental conservation with responsible travel, community participation, and sustainable development, and, as global interest in nature-based and low-impact tourism expand, forests are becoming critical destinations for education, recreation, and ecological awareness. Consequently, this Special Issue aims to explore the complex dynamics between recreational use of forested areas, conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, and the socio-economic development of local communities. We welcome contributions that present empirical research, case studies, conceptual frameworks, policy analyses, and innovative practices related to forest ecotourism. Special attention will be given to submissions addressing participatory approaches, conflict mitigation, ecosystem services, and adaptive management strategies, and we encourage interdisciplinary perspectives that bridge the natural and social sciences and highlight the challenges and opportunities of balancing multiple functions and values within forest landscapes.

Dr. Agata Kobyłka
Dr. Mariusz Ciesielski
Dr. Anna Mazurek-Kusiak
Dr. Natalia Korcz
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

  • forest ecotourism
  • sustainable tourism
  • conservation and recreation
  • community-based tourism
  • forest landscapes
  • ecosystem services
  • protected areas
  • participatory planning
  • forest policy
  • tourism and local development

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 2183 KB  
Article
Ecological Education in the City: Who, How, and with What Effect Educates the Residents of the Warsaw Metropolitan Area—Preliminary Research in Poland
by Natalia Korcz, Agnieszka Kamińska and Mariusz Ciesielski
Forests 2026, 17(2), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17020275 - 18 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 580
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the level of participation of residents of the Warsaw metropolitan area in environmental education and to identify the relationship between the frequency of forest visits and self-assessed environmental and forest-related knowledge. Understanding these relationships is [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to examine the level of participation of residents of the Warsaw metropolitan area in environmental education and to identify the relationship between the frequency of forest visits and self-assessed environmental and forest-related knowledge. Understanding these relationships is important for improving the effectiveness of environmental education programs targeted at adult populations. The research was conducted as a pilot and exploratory study using an online survey administered via the Maptionnaire platform. The study included 218 adult respondents who had visited forest areas at least once in the previous year. The results indicate that more than two-thirds of respondents visited forests at least once a week, while slightly more than half reported participation in environmental education activities, mostly on an occasional basis and primarily in the form of field-based activities. Non-governmental organizations were more frequently identified as organizers of environmental education than forest-related institutions. A key finding is the differentiated self-assessment of knowledge: frequent forest visitors more often rated their environmental knowledge as average or low, whereas respondents visiting forests sporadically tended to assess their knowledge as good or very good. This pattern suggests that increased contact with nature may raise awareness of the complexity of environmental issues. The study provides practical insights for public institutions, State Forests, national parks, and non-governmental organizations involved in environmental education. The findings contribute to the development of more effective, diversified, and audience-oriented educational programs, with particular emphasis on field-based education and initiatives addressed to adult learners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecotourism: Balancing Recreation, Conservation, and Local Development)
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