Forest Recreation and Tourism

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: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 155

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Kedainiu District, 58344 Akademija, Lithuania
Interests: forest economy; sustainability; environment; forest tourism; public law

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests represent a vital resource at the intersection of ecological preservation and human engagement. As partially renewable natural systems, their value extends beyond their intrinsic ecological and economic significance to include their capacity to foster recreational and educational activities. In this context, the concept of sustainability transcends the simple dichotomy of conservation versus utilization, highlighting the need for innovative strategies that balance these often competing imperatives.

Ecotourism, a key subcategory of nature-based tourism, offers a promising avenue for leveraging forests as sites for responsible and immersive experiences. This form of tourism not only provides an opportunity for public education and recreation but also fosters awareness of forest ecosystems and their complex dynamics. Such awareness can catalyze support for conservation efforts, particularly in forested areas where natural ecosystems remain under-researched or face increasing anthropogenic pressures.

This Special Issue seeks to update the academic literature on the multifaceted relationship between forests and tourism. We aim to explore topics such as the role of tourism in promoting forest conservation, the development of ecotourism as a sustainable practice, and the management challenges associated with recreational forest use. Contributions are encouraged to address theoretical frameworks, case studies, and interdisciplinary approaches that advance our understanding of this dynamic field.

We invite researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to submit original studies, reviews, and conceptual papers that critically engage with themes including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Innovative management practices for recreational forest areas;
  • Ecotourism's role in fostering environmental stewardship;
  • The impacts of tourism on forest conservation and biodiversity;
  • Education and public engagement through forest-based tourism;
  • Comparative studies on the governance of tourism in forest ecosystems;
  • Metrics for assessing sustainability in forest tourism initiatives.

This Special Issue offers an opportunity to contribute to the evolving discourse on forests as dual spaces of ecological integrity and human utility. We look forward to receiving groundbreaking research and insights.

Dr. Dalia Perkumienė
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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 recreation
  • nature-based tourism
  • forest utilization
  • forest management processes
  • integrated tourism applications
  • sustainable forest recreation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

27 pages, 1327 KB  
Article
Forest Tourism and the Use of AI Technologies Towards Clean and Safe Environments: The Cases of Turkey, Lithuania, and Morocco
by Dalia Perkumienė, Ahmet Atalay and Larbi Safaa
Forests 2025, 16(10), 1615; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16101615 - 21 Oct 2025
Abstract
The rapidly expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in recent years presents significant opportunities for achieving sustainable, clean, and safe environmental objectives. This study aims to comprehensively examine the potential use of AI technologies for clean and safe environmental goals in forest [...] Read more.
The rapidly expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in recent years presents significant opportunities for achieving sustainable, clean, and safe environmental objectives. This study aims to comprehensively examine the potential use of AI technologies for clean and safe environmental goals in forest tourism areas in Turkey, Lithuania, and Morocco, and to conduct comparative analyses specific to each target country. The research was conducted using a qualitative methodology within a case study design. In line with purposive sampling principles, the sample was limited to a total of 72 participants from the three countries (24 from Turkey, 24 from Lithuania, and 24 from Morocco). To identify expert opinions relevant to the study objectives, semi-structured interviews were conducted across the three country samples, and the collected data were processed and analyzed using NVivo 14 software. The data were transformed into findings through descriptive analysis and content analysis. The results indicate that AI technologies are employed in forest tourism areas for diverse purposes and objectives related to clean and safe environmental management. In Turkey, AI applications are primarily directed toward proactive measures addressing pressing environmental issues, such as forest fires. In Lithuania, as an EU member state, AI technologies are utilized in a more strategic, institutional, and comprehensive manner across multiple areas and objectives. In contrast, Morocco appears to lag in AI adoption, focusing on international collaborations to enhance digital infrastructure and facilitate technology transfer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Recreation and Tourism)
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