Forest Ecosystem Dynamics, Carbon-Nitrogen Cycling and Environmental Systems
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026
Special Issue Editors
2. Department of Architecture, Heilongjiang Institute of Construction Technology, Harbin, China
Interests: forest carbon cycle; forest nitrogen cycling; carbon sink enhancement; forest management and restoration; ecosystem modeling; climate change mitigation
Interests: impact of climate change on forest ecological environment and urban ecological environment; forest carbon and nitrogen cycling; root morphology, structure, and physiological functions
Interests: response of forest ecosystems under climate change; the role and value of forest ecosystems in carbon neutrality and carbon peaking; the preservation and utilization of forest plant resources
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Forest Ecosystems are fundamental components of the Earth system, playing a pivotal role in regulating the global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles while serving as critical interfaces for addressing environmental challenges such as climate change and ecosystem degradation. Understanding the complex interactions among ecosystem dynamics, strategies for enhancing carbon sinks, and the mechanisms of C–N biogeochemical coupling is essential not only for improving predictions of ecosystem responses to global change but also for guiding sustainable management practices (e.g., forest/restoration ecology, pollution control) and supporting national/global carbon accounting and climate mitigation goals.
This Special Issue explores the interdisciplinary connections between forest ecosystem dynamics and environmental science, with a focus on:
(1) The coupled processes driving ecosystem structure and function (e.g., plant–soil–microbe interactions, energy and material fluxes) across spatial and temporal scales;
(2) Pathways and practices for enhancing carbon sinks (e.g., reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, wetland restoration) and their integration with ecosystem resilience;
(3) The mechanisms and management implications of C–N cycling, including how nutrient dynamics interact with carbon fluxes, influence ecosystem services (e.g., water purification, greenhouse gas regulation), and respond to natural or human-induced disturbances (e.g., pollution, land-use change).
We welcome original research and reviews that leverage diverse methods (field observations, remote sensing, manipulative experiments, meta-analyses, and modeling) to advance mechanistic understanding. Studies may span natural ecosystems (e.g., forests, forest wetland systems), with a shared goal of supporting evidence-based ecosystem management, restoring degraded environments, and informing climate mitigation and environmental sustainability strategies.
Dr. Yibo Li
Dr. Guoyong Yan
Prof. Dr. Qinggui Wang
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
- forest ecosystem dynamics
- environmental science
- carbon sink enhancement
- carbon–nitrogen coupling
- ecosystem carbon budget
- nutrient cycling
- ecosystem management and restoration
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
