The Role of Urban Vegetation and Forests in Climate Change Adaptation: Implications for Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in Cities

Dear Colleagues,

Urban vegetation and forests significantly contribute to improving air quality, reducing urban heat, and enhancing thermal comfort, thereby supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation. Trees and green infrastructure filter pollutants through leaves, modulate the dispersion of pollutants through changes in street ventilation, and cool the environment through shading and evapotranspiration. However, some species may produce negative effects by, for instance, emitting biogenic volatile organic compounds or allergenic pollen, which can worsen air quality. Therefore, considering the effects of climate change in urban areas, selecting and managing suitable climate-resilient species is essential to maximize environmental benefits, minimize disservices, and ensure sustainable urban livability by improving air quality and thermal comfort in urban environments.

This Special Issue invites submissions of original research focused on the role of urban vegetation and forests in modifying urban air quality and thermal comfort in urban environments. We welcome studies based on field measurements or modelling approaches conducted across different spatial scales. Submissions that develop new parameterizations for representing urban vegetation processes in models are encouraged. We are particularly interested in research that evaluates the potential of nature-based solutions for improving air quality and thermal comfort within future climate scenarios.

Dr. Beatriz Sanchez
Dr. Esther Rivas
Dr. Jose Luis Santiago
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.