Efficient Culture and Ecological Management of Tropical Forests

Tropical forests, the Earth's vital terrestrial ecosystems, harbor 40% of global biomass carbon and annually absorb six times the amount of carbon emissions from human fossil fuel consumption. Tropical forest areas are characterized by year-round warmth and rainfall, high solar radiation, varied terrain, and host a wealth of species and unrivaled biodiversity due to the diverse climates and soils influenced by such complex terrains.

However, for a long time, tropical forests have been constantly providing nutrients for human development and life, while also being affected by human behavior such as deforestation that disrupts ecological balance, resulting in a reduction in forest area and a decline in ecological functions.

Tropical forests can be roughly divided into three types: tropical rainforests, tropical natural secondary forests, and tropical plantations. Each type poses unique challenges and opportunities for nurturing, cultivation, and ecological management. Notwithstanding, there remain numerous research gaps in these areas, encompassing the exploration of scientific questions, the development of practical technologies, and the crafting and implementation of effective policies.

Forests is therefore launching a Special Issue, titled "Efficient Culture and Ecological Management of Tropical Forests", to publish a collection of papers in this field. Topics may include but are not limited to:

1. Tending and Management of Tropical Rainforests

• Protection and restoration strategies for tropical rainforests
• Understanding and enhancing the ecosystem services provided by tropical rainforests (including protection of endangered species, biodiversity conservation and restoration, soil microorganisms, carbon sequestration and emission reduction, water resource conservation, air purification, etc.)
• Evaluation and improvement of policies and legislation for rainforest protection
• Development of systems for continuous monitoring of forest health
• Rational utilization and sustainable management of tropical rainforest resources, etc.

 

2. The nurturing and restoration of tropical natural secondary forests

• Techniques and strategies for nurturing tropical natural secondary forests
• Management of their service functions
• Maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility
• Approaches for restoring biodiversity in secondary forests
• Rational utilization and sustainable management of tropical natural secondary forests, etc.

 

3. Cultivation and ecological management of tropical plantation

• Collection and utilization of germplasm resources, variety selection, and seedling breeding
• Advanced cultivation technology and management of tropical plantations
• Strategies for maintaining soil fertility and overcoming continuous cropping obstacles in tropical plantations
• Prevention and control of diseases, pests, and weeds in tropical plantations
• Utilization of understory resources in tropical plantations
• Considerations for the rational allocation of pure and mixed forests, and the sustainable use of forest products and timber
• Management and optimization of ecosystem service functions
• Realizing the ecological value of tropical plantations, etc.

 

We welcome submissions from a range of disciplines, including but not limited to forestry, ecology, environmental science, conservation biology, and environmental policy. We are particularly interested in studies that offer practical solutions, innovative technologies, and policy recommendations to enhance the sustainable management and utilization of tropical forests.

 

Prof. Dr. Zhixiang Wu
Dr. Junen Wu
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.