Sustainable Forest Ecosystems and Wood Supply Chains
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Forestry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: sustainable development; certification in forestry; bioeconomy; innovation; wood flow modelling; forest products trade; forest service analysis; forest industry competitiveness; product substitution on the wood market; wood products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Expanding sustainable forest management requires integrated, technology-driven, and inclusive approaches that address persistent challenges and support the long-term health and resilience of forest ecosystems and supply chains. Sustainable forest ecosystems and timber supply chains are increasingly recognized as essential for balancing economic, environmental, and social objectives in the forest sector. Recent research emphasizes a transition from a narrow focus on timber production to integrated, multifunctional management approaches that value ecosystem services, biodiversity, climate resilience, and community well-being throughout the supply chain. This special edition highlights strategies such as optimizing supply chain processes, adopting management systems that support both wood and non-wood forest products, and leveraging digital technologies and innovations for traceability, efficiency, and risk management.
Persistent challenges include reconciling conflicting demands—such as biomass production versus biodiversity conservation—and addressing the limited adoption of advanced technologies in certain regions. Effective solutions require coordinated policy frameworks, innovative modeling, and holistic management to ensure long-term forest health, climate benefits, and resilient markets for wood products. Inclusive policies that engage all stakeholders, including smallholders and local communities, are critical for equitable and sustainable outcomes. Future research should focus on integrating ecological, economic, and social dimensions, improving digital infrastructure, and fostering collaboration across the supply chain. By addressing these challenges, the forest sector can contribute to global sustainability goals, enhance ecosystem services, and support resilient, inclusive markets for both timber and non-timber products.
Dr. Jan Parobek
Guest Editor
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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
- forest ecosystem
- integrated management
- timber chains
- sustainable wood utilization
- forest services
- climate change
- innovation and digitalization
- public policy
- forest sustainable forest management
- wood processing industry
- stakeholder inclusion
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