Tree and Shrub Bark: Management, Sustainable Production, and Opportunities in the Forest Bioeconomy
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: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 3
Special Issue Editors
Interests: forest modeling; forest management; forest inventory; agroforestry; nonwood forest products; cork; cork oak; montado; statistical analysis; decision support tools
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biomass; biorefineries; non-wood products; forest-based industries; natural products; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Tree and shrub bark is a diverse and valuable resource with growing importance in the forest-based bioeconomy; therefore, this Special Issue invites original research and reviews focused on the management, sustainable production, transformation, and innovation of bark from a wide range of forest species. Well-known examples include cork from Quercus suber, valued for insulation, packaging, and design; cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum spp.), used in food and cosmetics; willow bark (Salix spp.), rich in salicylates; and barks rich in tannins, such as Acacia or Quillaja, used in industrial processes. Other notable examples are Quassia bark (Quassia amara), known for its bitter compounds with insecticidal and medicinal applications, and Lapacho bark (Handroanthus spp.), traditionally used in herbal remedies. Many other bark types offer untapped potential for fibres, bioactives, and bioenergy. We welcome contributions on bark harvesting and forest management, processing technologies and value chains, industrial applications and innovation, socioeconomic and ecological dimensions, and bark’s integration into circular and regional bioeconomies. This Special Issue aims to highlight bark as a strategic non-wood forest product, fostering its sustainable use and innovation across various sectors.
Prof. Dr. Joana Amaral Paulo
Prof. Dr. Helena Pereira
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 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
- non-wood forest product
- cork
- cinnamomum
- quinine
- pau d’arco bark
- Cambodia bark
- forest management
- tannins
- innovation
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