Forests That Heal: Importance of Medicinal Trees and Forest Understory Plants Conservation and Use

Dear Colleagues,

Forests harbor a huge diversity of medicinal plants and trees that have played a vital role in traditional and modern healthcare systems. These biological resources contribute not only to human health through the provision of pharmacologically active compounds, but also to ecological balance and cultural heritage. However, increasing deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and unsustainable harvesting practices pose significant threats to their survival. This Special Issue invites original research articles, reviews, and case studies that explore the ethnobotanical importance, phytochemical profiling, pharmacological potential, and conservation strategies of medicinal forest species. We particularly welcome studies addressing sustainable harvesting practices, the domestication and cultivation of understory medicinal plants, and the role of forests in supporting global health through natural product-based therapeutics. Furthermore, contributions highlighting policy frameworks, community-based conservation efforts, and the integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches are highly encouraged. This Special Issue aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on preserving medicinal biodiversity, ensuring sustainable utilization, and unlocking new drug discovery avenues from forest ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.

Dr. Adnan Amin
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.