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Forests
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Social and Cultural Benefits of Forests Contributing to Human Health...
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Social and Cultural Benefits of Forests Contributing to Human Health and Well-Being

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: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 6059

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kangning Xiong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertification Control, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
Interests: karst geomorphology and speleology; ecosystem function and service; natural world heritage conservation and desertification control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaofang Zhou

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
School of Tourism Management, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Interests: karst rural settlements; megacity resilience; traditional Chinese geography
Dr. Mingjun Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Guizhou Forestry Survey and Planning Institute, Guiyang, China
Interests: karst desertification control; degraded forest ecosystems restoration; cultivation of Rosa roxburghii Tratt; survey and monitoring of grassland resources

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As an indispensable and important component of terrestrial ecosystems, forests provide diverse ecosystem services and products to human society. For those areas where important forest management has been implemented, such as karst desertification control areas, the relationship between forest ecosystems and human society is even more complex and close. Numerous research studies have been carried out on forest ecosystem functions, but mostly from an ecological perspective, neglecting the social and cultural contributions. Therefore, we look forward to some comprehensive analysis on how forest ecosystems have profound impacts on human health and well-being from a social and cultural perspective. This Special Issue welcomes studies bringing new data and methods about (1) social and cultural values of forest ecosystem services; (2) forest ecosystem health development; (3) forest governance strategies under the social–ecological system framework; (4) mechanisms of forests for community resilience; (5) mechanisms of coupling forest ecosystems and human well-being; and (6) pathways for forest eco-industry development and enhancement. Based on this, it is hoped that this Special Issue will provide a solid foundation for these theoretical insights by collecting and analyzing rich empirical data and case studies, so as to provide policy makers, practitioners, and the public with a new understanding of the value of forests.

Prof. Dr. Kangning Xiong
Dr. Xiaofang Zhou
Guest Editors

Dr. Mingjun Li
Guest Editor Assistant

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 ecosystem services
  • forest management and restoration
  • social and cultural benefits
  • forest eco-industry
  • human well-being
  • social–ecological system model simulation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1767 KiB  
Article
Economic Value Estimation for Protected Forest Areas with Hedonic Pricing: Case of Uzungöl Natural Park
by Mahmut M. Bayramoğlu, Emre Küçükbekir, Zeki Candan and Cenk Demirkir
Forests 2025, 16(3), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16030503 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 486
Abstract
Due to the increase in recreational demands, the significance of protected areas and forests with recreational potential in forests increased with the demands of nature tourism, which in turn provided new income sources to the forestry industry. In the current study, the economic [...] Read more.
Due to the increase in recreational demands, the significance of protected areas and forests with recreational potential in forests increased with the demands of nature tourism, which in turn provided new income sources to the forestry industry. In the current study, the economic values of the Uzungöl Nature Park’s lake view, an international tourist destination, were estimated using the hedonic pricing method. In the study, 188 questionnaires were conducted with 89 businesses, and the hedonic price function (HPF) was determined based on the study data collected from the businesses in Uzungöl Nature Park. It was estimated that the mean lake view in-room accommodation price for the hotels in Uzungöl Nature Park was USD 207.38 and the lake causes an increase of $2.8 per square meter and $144.67 in total on the room price of the hotels. The study findings demonstrated that the lake view was a desirable quality for hotel rooms, which is reflected in the prices in Uzungöl. The significant contribution of the lake view to room prices would support the planning and management of protected areas that are usually rich in natural resources. Determining the economic value of the lake view will enable business owners operating in the region or those planning to establish new businesses to make more informed pricing strategies. It will also strengthen hotel owners’ marketing campaigns and enable them to think more rationally about new investments (such as adding rooms or services). Business owners will be able to optimize their rooms based on lake views in order to offer more lake-view rooms to customers. Determining the economic value of the lake view will raise awareness about the protection of natural areas. By investing in eco-friendly and sustainable practices, hotel owners will contribute to the conservation of natural resources. The value estimates determined in the present study would also contribute to the employment of total forest value calculations and resource accounting systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Cultural Benefits of Forests Contributing to Human Health and Well-Being)
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27 pages, 5221 KiB  
Article
The Social and Ecological Dimension of Ecosystem Service Enhancement in Post-Mining Forest Rehabilitation: Integrating Stakeholder Perspectives
by Bohwi Lee, Dawou Joung, Wonho Kim, Juin Ko and Hakjun Rhee
Forests 2025, 16(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16010007 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 847
Abstract
Mining activities lead to significant environmental degradation, including soil erosion, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. In South Korea, abandoned coal mines cause considerable ecological disturbances in mountainous regions. Forest rehabilitation has been proposed as a strategy to mitigate these impacts, but its effectiveness [...] Read more.
Mining activities lead to significant environmental degradation, including soil erosion, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. In South Korea, abandoned coal mines cause considerable ecological disturbances in mountainous regions. Forest rehabilitation has been proposed as a strategy to mitigate these impacts, but its effectiveness depends on successfully integrating ecosystem services (ES). This study assesses the social value of ES in post-mining rehabilitation by incorporating perspectives from local communities and experts in forestry and mining sectors. A mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews was employed to gather stakeholder views on 18 ES, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and habitat services. Results indicate that local communities prioritize cultural and regulating services, such as mental health, aesthetic value, and climate regulation, while experts emphasize regulating services like soil erosion control and carbon sequestration. This divergence highlights the need for a balanced approach that integrates both ecological and socio-cultural benefits, suggesting that community needs have not been adequately reflected in current practices. The study findings underscore the importance of incorporating community input into forest management to ensure both ecological outcomes and social value, offering a framework for adaptive management that aligns ecological goals with community needs, ultimately promoting sustainability and resilience in post-mining landscapes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Cultural Benefits of Forests Contributing to Human Health and Well-Being)
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18 pages, 1527 KiB  
Article
Job Stress, Working Capacity, Professional Performance and Safety of Shift Workers at Forest Harvesting in the North of Russian Federation
by Yana Korneeva, Nina Shadrina, Natalia Simonova and Anna Trofimova
Forests 2024, 15(12), 2056; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122056 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 787
Abstract
This study describes the features, manifestations and interrelationships of job stress, working capacity, professional performance and safety in loggers with a shift work organization in the North. This study involved 402 loggers. The research methods include questionnaires and psychophysiological diagnostics of stress and [...] Read more.
This study describes the features, manifestations and interrelationships of job stress, working capacity, professional performance and safety in loggers with a shift work organization in the North. This study involved 402 loggers. The research methods include questionnaires and psychophysiological diagnostics of stress and working capacity as well as questionnaires on the professional performance and safety of workers. The following statistical methods were used: correlation, multivariate dispersion and multi-regression stepwise analysis. It was found that the severity of stress, speed, accuracy and operator working capacity, as well as well-being, activity and mood in logging equipment operators, timber truck drivers and maintenance specialists statistically differ significantly. Higher professional stress and a more frequent decrease in professional performance are characteristic of truck drivers. Psychological and psychophysiological job stress and working capacity parameters are associated with the professional performance parameters of loggers. According to the results of a number of multi-regression analyses, the reduced professional performance markers of loggers include the index of stress, satiety, monotony and fatigue, vegetative balance and stress (method of M. Luscher and coefficients from G.A. Aminev), operator working capacity and reaction speed (CVMR). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Cultural Benefits of Forests Contributing to Human Health and Well-Being)
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25 pages, 4204 KiB  
Article
National Forest City Policy and Urban Ecological Resilience: Evidence from 292 Cities in China
by Xinkuo Xu and Zenglu Song
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1906; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111906 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1064
Abstract
The process of sustainable urban development faces complex and severe environmental problems. Therefore, enhancing urban ecological resilience (UER) has become an urgent and critical goal. In this study, the establishment of national forest cities (NFCs) in China is regarded as an exogenous shock [...] Read more.
The process of sustainable urban development faces complex and severe environmental problems. Therefore, enhancing urban ecological resilience (UER) has become an urgent and critical goal. In this study, the establishment of national forest cities (NFCs) in China is regarded as an exogenous shock event, and the impact of NFCs on UER and its mechanisms are investigated based on data from 292 cities spanning 2003 to 2021 using a difference-in-difference method. It is found that NFCs can significantly enhance UER, and this conclusion holds after a series of robustness tests. Mechanism analysis shows that NFCs can effectively strengthen environmental regulations, upgrade industrial structures, promote green innovation, and thus enhance UER. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the effect of NFC on UER is more significant in low-carbon non-pilot cities, cities with higher levels of industrial development, and cities in central and western China. Spatial spillover analysis shows that NFCs can effectively improve the ecological resilience of neighboring cities. Therefore, NFCs should be continuously implemented and optimized to establish a long-term mechanism for urban forests to enhance ecological resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Cultural Benefits of Forests Contributing to Human Health and Well-Being)
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Review

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24 pages, 5518 KiB  
Review
Integrating Forest Ecosystem Services into Health Strategies to Improve Human Well-Being
by Yuan Liu, Chengyuan Wang, Yuwen Liu, Tiantian Feng, Enheng Wang, Liwei Yang, Qian Niu and Xuegang Mao
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1872; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111872 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 2219
Abstract
As the largest terrestrial ecosystem covering extensive expanses of the Earth’s surface, forests offer crucial health benefits to humans, both directly and indirectly. Presently, health services derived from forest resources have presented significant opportunities for enhancing human well-being. Nonetheless, the absence of a [...] Read more.
As the largest terrestrial ecosystem covering extensive expanses of the Earth’s surface, forests offer crucial health benefits to humans, both directly and indirectly. Presently, health services derived from forest resources have presented significant opportunities for enhancing human well-being. Nonetheless, the absence of a comprehensive understanding regarding the mechanisms by which forests impact human health jeopardizes the potential gains in health. Regrettably, there remains a dearth of scholarly work elucidating these pathways. This paper aims to furnish a thorough examination of how forests influence human health. We initiate by formulating a conceptual framework upon which we delineate the various pathways through which forests impact human health. These encompass the provisioning of resources, preventive services, and forest therapies. Concurrently, we outline the moderating influence of social, economic, and individual characteristics as mediators within this pathway. These characteristics are classified into two overarching dimensions: accessibility and behavioral choices, which notably affect marginalized demographics such as those with lower socioeconomic status, women, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and children in developing nations. Consequently, we build upon these foundational insights to propose six strategies aimed at perpetuating the positive impact of forests on human health in the foreseeable future. In the future, the development of forest management policies, the assessment of long-term health benefits, social practices, and international cooperation must be considered holistically to attain the dual objective of sustainable forest management and the advancement of human well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Cultural Benefits of Forests Contributing to Human Health and Well-Being)
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