New Approaches to Enhancing Public Health Through Urban Forestry
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Forestry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 331
Special Issue Editors
Interests: healthy urban planning and design; biophilic design; environmental health; environmental psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: environmental cognition theory and methods; spatiotemporal intelligence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Urban forests, encompassing all trees and vegetation in cities, play a crucial role in the health and well-being of urban populations. As urbanization accelerates worldwide, the need to integrate natural elements into city planning becomes increasingly urgent. The Special Issue aims to illuminate the multifaceted benefits of urban forestry and explore innovative strategies for leveraging these green spaces to enhance public health.
It seeks to address key research gaps in the field, including the need for standardized metrics to assess health outcomes, long-term and large-scale studies on the cumulative effects of urban forests, and deeper exploration of the interactions between urban forestry and social determinants of health. Additionally, there is a lack of research on how urban forests can enhance climate resilience, strategies for equitable access to green spaces, and the integration of urban forestry into urban planning and public health policies. Gaps also exist in understanding effective community engagement, the application of technological innovations, the role of biodiversity in public health, and the economic valuation of health benefits derived from urban forests. Addressing these gaps will provide a comprehensive understanding of how urban forestry can be leveraged to improve public health in diverse urban contexts.
It delves into the myriad ways urban forestry can contribute to healthier communities: from reducing air pollution and mitigating heat islands to promoting physical activity and mental well-being. These green spaces act as natural sanctuaries, providing respite from the hustle and bustle of city life and fostering a connection to nature that is essential for human health. Moreover, this Special Issue addresses the importance of environmental justice in urban forestry. Ensuring equitable access to green spaces is vital for reducing health disparities and promoting social cohesion. By highlighting successful models and innovative approaches, this collection of articles seeks to inspire and inform efforts to create healthier, more sustainable urban environments.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Health benefits of urban green spaces
- Disparities in access to urban green spaces and health equities
- Innovative technologies and methodologies for studying and enhancing the relationship between urban forests and public health
- Design and management of urban forests to maximize health benefits
- Policy and community engagement Policies that support the integration of urban forestry in public health initiatives
Dr. Jie Yin
Dr. Liyan Xu
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
- urban forestry
- public health
- environmental justice
- health disparities
- innovative technologies
- nature-based solutions
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