Interlinks of Environmental Policy, Forest Resource Use, and Economic Dynamics

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 May 2026 | Viewed by 926

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Interests: forest economy sustainability; environmental fiscal policy; agricultural economy development; environmental taxation; climate change; carbon emission; renewable energy sources

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Guest Editor
Department of Finance, Accounting and Economics, Faculty of Economic Studies, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: forest economy sustainability; sustainable development; carbon neutrality; energy transition; green investments; environmental fiscal policy; agricultural economy development; environmental taxation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To address modern environmental and socioeconomic challenges, it is crucial to understand the intricate connections between economic dynamics, forest resource management, and environmental policy. Sustainable management techniques reflect the goals of environmental policy, striving to balance resource use with ecological conservation. Acknowledging the importance of community engagement in achieving sustainable development goals underscores the need for strong policy frameworks. Additionally, forest resources serve as a vital link between economic development and environmental sustainability. A comprehensive strategy that recognizes the diverse social, economic, and ecological benefits of forests is essential given the evolving dynamics of forest management.

Considering local socioeconomic conditions is equally important in managing forest resources. These socioeconomic factors influence how forests are utilized and managed, impacting the broader economy. The decentralization of forest management across regions illustrates that simply transferring rights is inadequate for improving outcomes. As forests increasingly affect daily life, responsible management is essential to prevent depletion and foster sustainable economic development. The complex interplay among economic dynamics, forest resource utilization, and environmental policy involves multiple elements. Effective governance requires a deep understanding of these relationships, along with active community engagement and the development of policies that protect the environment while offering economic incentives aligned with sustainable practices.

Dr. Abdul Rehman
Dr. Radulescu Magdalena
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • forest production
  • environmental policy
  • carbon emission
  • forests and climate change
  • technological innovation
  • energy resources
  • forest resource management
  • economics of urban forestry
  • forests and bio-economy
  • land use and deforestry

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 2961 KB  
Article
Load Capacity Factor as Metrics for Land and Forests Sustainability Assessment in G20 Economies: Fresh Insight from Policy, Technology, and Economy Perspectives
by Guanglei Huang, Pao-Hsun Huang, Shoukat Iqbal Khattak and Anwar Khan
Forests 2025, 16(11), 1654; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16111654 - 30 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Traditional environmental research remains affixed in fragmented metrics (e.g., CO2 emissions or ecological footprints) that undermine the systemic equilibrium between economic demand and ecological regeneration. Biocapacity, representing the capacity of lands (crop and grazing), forests, and other natural systems, is the backbone [...] Read more.
Traditional environmental research remains affixed in fragmented metrics (e.g., CO2 emissions or ecological footprints) that undermine the systemic equilibrium between economic demand and ecological regeneration. Biocapacity, representing the capacity of lands (crop and grazing), forests, and other natural systems, is the backbone of economic livelihoods and environmental resilience. Recent literature frequently calls for operationalizing models with robust environmental sustainability indicators, such as the load capacity factor (LF), a comprehensive compass that measures biocapacity (e.g., forests, croplands) relative to ecological footprint. For this purpose, the integrated model combined environment-related policies (regulations, ENRs), technologies (ERTs), sectoral structures, and LF, with the latest available data (2000–2022) of G20 economies. Results of the multiple tests, including feasible generalized least squares, sensitivity tests (alternate proxies), and panel-corrected standard errors, highlighted a paradox: even though ENRs and ERTs tend to improve environmental sustainability through forestation, land use, and green initiatives, the results showed adverse effects of both indicators on environmental sustainability (LF), reflecting a misalignment between policies and environmental outcomes. While industrialization, renewable energy use, and rising per capita income had enhanced environmental sustainability (LF) gains, structural frictions in the services, manufacturing, and trade sectors undermined these advantages, revealing diffusion lags and transitional lock-ins across sampled countries. With LF embedded as a new tool for sustainable governance of forests and land management, the paper advances three critical contributions: (i) uncovering paradoxical deteriorations in sustainability under misaligned policy and technology interventions, (ii) showing an imperative need for performance-based, adaptive, and innovation-financed policies, and (iii) demonstrating LF as a standard for positioning technology, economic transitions, and policy with ecological and cropland-forests resilience. Full article
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