Tree and Shrub Bark: Management, Sustainable Production, and Opportunities in the Forest Bioeconomy

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: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 1324

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Centro de Estudos Florestais (CEF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa (ISA), Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: forest modeling; forest management; forest inventory; agroforestry; nonwood forest products; cork; cork oak; montado; statistical analysis; decision support tools
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Guest Editor
Forest Research Center, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: biomass; biorefineries; non-wood products; forest-based industries; natural products; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Centre for Applied Ecology "Prof. Baeta Neves" (CEABN), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portuga
2. Forest Research Center (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portuga
Interests: wood and non-wood (bark, stumps, etc.) lignocellulosic chemical/fuel characterization and fractionation pathways within a biorefinery concept approach; full use of lignocellulosic raw materials; pulping and bleaching processes; pulp and paper characterization; pre-treatments and enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tree and shrub bark is a diverse and valuable resource with growing importance in the forest-based bioeconomy; therefore, this Special Issue invites original research and reviews focused on the management, sustainable production, transformation, and innovation of bark from a wide range of forest species. Well-known examples include cork from Quercus suber, valued for insulation, packaging, and design; cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum spp.), used in food and cosmetics; willow bark (Salix spp.), rich in salicylates; and barks rich in tannins, such as Acacia or Quillaja, used in industrial processes. Other notable examples are Quassia bark (Quassia amara), known for its bitter compounds with insecticidal and medicinal applications, and Lapacho bark (Handroanthus spp.), traditionally used in herbal remedies. Many other bark types offer untapped potential for fibres, bioactives, and bioenergy. We welcome contributions on bark harvesting and forest management, processing technologies and value chains, industrial applications and innovation, socioeconomic and ecological dimensions, and bark’s integration into circular and regional bioeconomies. This Special Issue aims to highlight bark as a strategic non-wood forest product, fostering its sustainable use and innovation across various sectors.

Prof. Dr. Joana Amaral Paulo
Prof. Dr. Helena Pereira
Dr. Duarte M. Neiva
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • non-wood forest product
  • cork
  • cinnamomum
  • quinine
  • pau d’arco bark
  • Cambodia bark
  • forest management
  • tannins
  • innovation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 3969 KB  
Article
Effects of Industry-Inspired Storage Conditions on the Contents of Hydrophilic Extractives and Polyphenols in Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.) Bark
by Peter Hrovatič, Urša Osolnik, Tomislav Levanič, Primož Oven, Ida Poljanšek and Viljem Vek
Forests 2026, 17(2), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17020280 - 19 Feb 2026
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Abstract
Silver fir bark (Abies alba Mill.) is an underutilized renewable resource containing valuable extractives and polyphenols of industrial importance. This study compared the influence of two storage methods on the extraction of total hydrophilic extractives content (TEC) and total polyphenols content (TPC) [...] Read more.
Silver fir bark (Abies alba Mill.) is an underutilized renewable resource containing valuable extractives and polyphenols of industrial importance. This study compared the influence of two storage methods on the extraction of total hydrophilic extractives content (TEC) and total polyphenols content (TPC) from silver fir bark samples. Bark samples were collected from two storage types: bark left on stem sections and stored under cover (B-D), and mechanically removed industrial bark stored outdoors (B-IS), over a 12-month period with monthly sampling and extraction, followed by measurements of TEC and TPC using gravimetric and spectrophotometric methods. B-D samples showed no statistically significant decrease in TEC or TPC during one year of storage, while B-IS samples exhibited substantial losses, with TEC decreasing by more than half (50.82%) and TPC by 65.68%, most rapidly within the first 3 months when precipitation-driven leaching and degradation processes were obviously most pronounced. These results demonstrate that bark removed before storage is much more susceptible to degradation and leaching of the hydrophilic extractives than bark retained on logs, confirming that mechanical disintegration and exposure to weathering accelerate the loss of valuable extractives and polyphenols. A strong TEC–TPC correlation (r = 0.67–0.81, p < 0.0001) provides a practical methodological approach for rapid biomass quality screening. Overall, the findings offer quantitative guidance for optimizing debarking timing and storage practices to preserve extractive yield and enhance the efficiency of bark-based biorefinery processes. Full article
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