Dear Colleagues,

Natural regeneration in urban forests faces both biotic and abiotic challenges. The biotic challenges, people and herbivores, can be controlled by managing access to the forests. The abiotic challenges, especially air pollution and urban climate, have their most profound effects on the soil–tree relationships. The presence of natural regeneration trees is strongly related to the soil environment but can be largely influenced by human disturbances including soil compaction due to human trampling and chemical pollution. Although soil management techniques can reduce soil compaction, it is far more difficult to reduce the level of chemicals introduced to the soils from fossil fuels combustion. Little explored basic questions include relationships between the urban soil structure, which is often modified by people, and seedling populations of forest canopy tree species. How do the chemicals accumulating in soils from air pollution relate to seedling populations? How does the relatively hot urban climate effect the soil moisture natural regeneration relationship? Do soil conditions decrease the success rate of seed establishment by enhancing the success of seed consumers? Do urban soils favor the establishment of invasive species over native species? How does the soil microbial community relate to natural regeneration in the urban forest? What management techniques can urban forest stewards utilize to address urban forest soil challenges to enhance the natural regeneration of canopy trees?

The Special Issue aims at covering the state of the art in urban forest natural regeneration, responses of seedlings and saplings to various urban forest soil conditions, including interactions with invasive plant species, large animal herbivory and seed predation. Research articles and review articles of relevant practices on the topics are welcome.

Dr. Robert E. Loeb
Guest Editor

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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.

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• urban forest ecology
• urban natural areas conservation
• tree natural regeneration
• urban forest soils
• forest resource management