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
Forest and Human Well-Being
share announcement

Forest and Human Well-Being

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 3307

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Geonwoo Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Forest Environmental Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju-Daero, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
Interests: urban forest; forest eco-function; forests and human sociology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The relationship between forests and human well-being has deep historical roots. For centuries, forests have been crucial for human survival, providing essential resources such as food, shelter, and materials for tools and fuel. 

In the modern era, as industrialization and urbanization accelerated, the significance of forests for human well-being became more complex. The negative impacts of deforestation on the climate, water resources, and biodiversity became apparent, highlighting the importance of forests in maintaining ecological balance, which is fundamental to human health and prosperity.

This Special Issue aims to comprehensively explore the multifaceted connections between forests and human well-being. It seeks to bridge the gap between different disciplines, including forestry, ecology, economics, and sociology, to provide a holistic understanding of this relationship. 

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, research on how forests improve human living environment through providing clean air and water, climate regulation, and medicinal resources. Regarding economics, we are interested in studies on the value of forest-related ecosystem services for human well-being and how sustainable forest management can support local livelihoods; and regarding social factors, the role of forests in fostering community cohesion, cultural identity, and social equity will be explored. 

Dr. Geonwoo Kim
Guest Editor

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 ecosystem services
  • nexus of ecosystem and human well-being
  • sustainable forest management
  • climate change adaptation
  • forest policy
  • community forestry
  • forest biodiversity and human welfare

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

13 pages, 629 KB  
Article
Analyzing Social Service Provision Experience and Perceptions of Forest Welfare Professionals
by Mijin Lee, Soojin Kim, Jeonghee Lee, Jinyoung Jeon and Yeonhee Lee
Forests 2026, 17(2), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17020249 - 13 Feb 2026
Viewed by 367
Abstract
Forest welfare services are public services derived from forests that contribute to physical, emotional, and social health, ultimately aiming to improve quality of life. This study aimed to empirically analyze the qualifications of forest welfare professionals and their perceptions of social services. An [...] Read more.
Forest welfare services are public services derived from forests that contribute to physical, emotional, and social health, ultimately aiming to improve quality of life. This study aimed to empirically analyze the qualifications of forest welfare professionals and their perceptions of social services. An online survey was conducted with 752 certified forest welfare professionals in South Korea. Frequency, cross-tabulation, and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify key factors affecting their perceptions, including experience with social service provision, understanding of social services, and the perceived need for integration. Results showed that approximately 54% had experience providing social services, and statistically significant differences were found in perceived barriers and sustainability factors based on experience. Mental health improvement was identified as the most expected benefit of social service provision, with low-income individuals and people with disabilities recognized as key target groups. Regression analysis revealed that age, additional qualifications, and experience significantly affected understanding of social services, particularly experience. However, only social service experience significantly influenced the perception of the need for integration between forest welfare and social services. Qualification type and forestry employment status had no significant effect. This study clarifies how professional experience and certification backgrounds of forest welfare specialists influence their perceptions of social services. Based on these findings, the study provides an empirical foundation for exploring the potential expansion and integration of forest welfare services. These findings offer valuable guidance for practitioners and policymakers seeking to enhance forest service effectiveness and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Human Well-Being)
20 pages, 2660 KB  
Article
Citizen Perception of Air Pollution and the Role of Urban Trees as Biomonitoring Agents of Cadmium and Lead in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Jalisco, Mexico
by Paulina Beatriz Gutiérrez-Martínez, Blanca Catalina Ramírez-Hernández, Marcela Mariel Maldonado-Villegas, Sara Villanueva-Viramontes, Hector Leal-Aguayo, Laura Elizabeth Peña-García, Javier García-Velasco, Aurora Rosas-Ramírez, Mónica Reynoso-Silva and Carlos Alvarez-Moya
Forests 2026, 17(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17020218 - 5 Feb 2026
Viewed by 368
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution in urban environments and public understanding of these contaminants pose major challenges for air-quality management. Urban trees have been proposed as tools to mitigate air pollution; however, evidence integrating biophysical assessments and social perception is still limited in the Guadalajara [...] Read more.
Heavy metal pollution in urban environments and public understanding of these contaminants pose major challenges for air-quality management. Urban trees have been proposed as tools to mitigate air pollution; however, evidence integrating biophysical assessments and social perception is still limited in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG), Mexico. This study evaluated Cd and Pb accumulation in the leaves of five common urban tree species and assessed residents’ perceptions of air pollution and the role of urban trees. Significant interspecific differences were found, with Citrus × aurantium L. showing the highest Cd concentration (2.60 mg kg−1) and Bauhinia variegata L. the highest Pb content (7.45 mg kg−1). Socially, 62% of respondents found the AMG to be one of the most polluted metropolitan areas in the country, and >90% acknowledged direct or indirect health impacts associated with air pollution; nevertheless, a marked knowledge gap persisted about specific contaminants such as Cd and Pb. This “perception paradox” highlights an opportunity to strengthen risk communication and environmental education and suggests that urban-tree biomonitoring can provide locally meaningful evidence to support public engagement and policy actions. Taken together, the environmental and social findings provide an interpretive, metropolitan-scale synthesis that informs air quality management and public health protection in the AMG. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Human Well-Being)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 1757 KB  
Article
Discovering the Pathways from Urban Forests to the Subjective Well-Being of Citizens in Tehran
by Rahim Maleknia and Natalia Korcz
Forests 2025, 16(10), 1503; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16101503 - 23 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 987
Abstract
Rapid urbanization reduces green space and increases urban stressors, yet the mechanisms linking urban forests to residents’ subjective well-being remain incompletely understood. This study examines how perceived access, perceived quality, visitation frequency, and satisfaction with urban forests relate to citizens’ subjective well-being in [...] Read more.
Rapid urbanization reduces green space and increases urban stressors, yet the mechanisms linking urban forests to residents’ subjective well-being remain incompletely understood. This study examines how perceived access, perceived quality, visitation frequency, and satisfaction with urban forests relate to citizens’ subjective well-being in Tehran. Using an online survey of 672 residents and structural equation modeling, this study estimates direct and indirect pathways among the constructs. The results show perceived access is the strongest predictor, raising visitation, satisfaction, and well-being, while perceived satisfaction is the most powerful direct driver of subjective well-being. Perceived quality positively affects well-being but with a smaller effect, and visitation frequency alone does not significantly improve well-being, underscoring that positive experiential factors such as satisfaction matter more than visit counts. The model explains 69.8% of variance in subjective well-being. This study refines the current theoretical foundation by integrating access, quality, frequency, and satisfaction within a single conceptual framework in a megacity context and directly comparing the relative strengths of accessibility versus quality as pathways to well-being. In the context of current knowledge it is among the first to test these comparative pathways using a large Tehran sample. Practically, these findings suggest that urban policy should prioritize equitable access and design that fosters satisfying experiences, not just increasing visit counts. Future research should use longitudinal or experimental designs, incorporate objective measures, compare multiple cities and types of green spaces, and explore moderators such as perceived safety, motivations for visiting, and place attachment to refine causal understanding and policy guidance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Human Well-Being)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2211 KB  
Article
Optimizing Season-Specific MET for Thermal Comfort Under Open and Closed Urban Forest Canopies
by Doyun Song, Sieon Kim, Minseo Park, Choyun Kim, Chorong Song, Bum-Jin Park, Dawou Joung and Geonwoo Kim
Forests 2025, 16(9), 1424; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16091424 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 982
Abstract
Urban heat island conditions increase heat exposure and constrain safe outdoor activities. Urban forests can mitigate thermal loads; however, stand morphology can produce divergent microclimates. We aimed to quantify how stand type (open vs. closed), season (spring, summer, fall), and activity intensity (MET [...] Read more.
Urban heat island conditions increase heat exposure and constrain safe outdoor activities. Urban forests can mitigate thermal loads; however, stand morphology can produce divergent microclimates. We aimed to quantify how stand type (open vs. closed), season (spring, summer, fall), and activity intensity (MET 1.0–6.0) jointly modulate thermal comfort and to identify season-specific optimal MET levels in an urban forest in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. We combined site-specific 3D canopy modeling with hourly Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) simulations driven by AMOS tower data (2023–2024). Comfort was defined as |PMV| ≤ 0.5. Analyses included seasonal means, Cliff’s delta, and generalized estimating equation logistic models to estimate the SITE × SEASON × MET interactions and predict comfort probabilities. Across most seasons and MET levels, C1 was more comfortable than C2. However, at MET 1.0 in summer, the pattern was reversed, which may reflect the canopy shading and associated decreases in mean radiant temperature (MRT) of C2. Comfort peaked at MET 2.0–3.0 and declined sharply at ≥4.5 MET. The three-way SITE × SEASON × MET interaction was significant (p < 0.001). The season-specific optimal MET values under our boundary conditions were 3.0 (spring), 2.0–2.5 (summer), and 3.0 (fall). These simulation-based PMV-centered findings represent model-informed tendencies. Nevertheless, they support actionable guidance: prioritize high-closure stands for low-intensity summer use, leverage open stands for low-to-moderate activities in spring and fall, and avoid high-intensity programs during warm periods. These results inform the programming and design of urban-forest healing and recreation by matching stand type and activity intensity to season to maximize comfortable hours. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Human Well-Being)
►▼ 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