sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Sustainable Wood Product Management and Forest Bioeconomy under Climate Change

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 October 2025 | Viewed by 2444

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo Campus, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, MG, Brazil
Interests: wood quality; bioenergy; forest biomass

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo Campus, Monte Carmelo 38500-000, MG, Brazil
Interests: geographic information systems; forest planning; forest management; ecology of forest landscapes; management of conservation units; ecosystem services

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
Interests: forestry science; environmental conservation; carbon and climate change mitigation; environmental licensing; ecosystem services

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainable management and utilization of forest resources represent critical strategies in combating the escalating challenges posed by climate change. Forests, spanning vast expanses of the Earth's surface, serve as indispensable carbon sinks, sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and storing it in biomass and soils. Sustainable forestry practices, such as selective logging, reforestation, and agroforestry systems, promote biodiversity conservation, maintain ecosystem services, and enhance forest resilience to climate variability. Moreover, sustainable forest management contributes to preserving carbon stocks within forests, preventing the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere.

Utilizing sustainably sourced wood products is also pivotal in climate change mitigation. Wood products, from timber for construction to bio-based materials and bioenergy, offer renewable alternatives to fossil fuel-intensive products and materials. By substituting carbon-intensive materials with wood-based alternatives, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration, contributing to a transition towards a low-carbon economy.

In conclusion, the sustainable management and utilization of forest resources are essential strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change. By implementing sustainable forestry practices and promoting the use of sustainably sourced wood products, we can enhance carbon sequestration, preserve biodiversity, and support the transition towards a low-carbon economy. We must continue prioritizing the conservation and sustainable management of forests to safeguard their invaluable ecological and climatic benefits for current and future generations.

  • Suggested Themes:
  • Adaptation Strategies;
  • Bioeconomy;
  • Carbon Sequestration;
  • Circular Economy;
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for wood products and forest chain;
  • Non-timber forest products;
  • Wood Quality Assessment;
  • Value-Added Wood Products;
  • Certification and Standards.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Antônio José Vinha Zanuncio
Prof. Dr. Luciano Cavalcante de Jesus Franç
Dr. Vicente Toledo Machado De Morais Júnior
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. 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

  • wood quality assessment
  • value-added wood products
  • wood durability and preservation
  • wood waste utilization
  • certification and standards
  • energetic forest

  • forest management
  • forest-based thermoelectricity
  • forest resources and sustainability

 

 

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 2010 KiB  
Article
Dense Forests in the Brazilian State of Amapá Store the Highest Biomass in the Amazon Basin
by José Douglas M. da Costa, Paulo Eduardo Barni, Eleneide D. Sotta, Marcelo de J. V. Carim, Alan C. da Cunha, Marcelino C. Guedes, Perseu da S. Aparicio, Leidiane L. de Oliveira, Reinaldo I. Barbosa, Philip M. Fearnside, Henrique E. M. Nascimento and José Julio de Toledo
Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5310; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125310 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 374
Abstract
The Amazonian forests located within the Guiana Shield store above-average levels of biomass per hectare. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding carbon stocks in this region, mainly due to limited inventory data and the lack of spatial datasets that account for factors influencing variation [...] Read more.
The Amazonian forests located within the Guiana Shield store above-average levels of biomass per hectare. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding carbon stocks in this region, mainly due to limited inventory data and the lack of spatial datasets that account for factors influencing variation among forest types. The present study investigates the spatial distribution of original total forest biomass in the state of Amapá, located in the northeastern Brazilian Amazon. Using data from forest inventory plots, we applied geostatistical interpolation techniques (kriging) combined with environmental variables to generate a high-resolution map of forest biomass distribution. The stocks of biomass were associated with different forest types and land uses. The average biomass was 536.5 ± 64.3 Mg ha−1 across forest types, and non-flooding lowland forest had the highest average (619.1 ± 38.3), followed by the submontane (521.8 ± 49.8) and the floodplain (447.6 ± 45.5) forests. Protected areas represented 84.1% of Amapá’s total biomass stock, while 15.9% was in agriculture and ranching areas, but the average biomass is similar between land-use types. Sustainable-use reserves stock more biomass (40%) than integral-protection reserves (35%) due to the higher average biomass associated with well-structured forests and a greater density of large trees. The map generated in the present study contributes to a better understanding of carbon balance across multiple spatial scales and demonstrates that forests in this region contain the highest carbon stocks per hectare (260.2 ± 31.2 Mg ha−1, assuming that 48.5% of biomass is carbon) in the Amazon. To conserve these stocks, it is necessary to go further than merely maintaining protected areas by strengthening the protection of reserves, restricting logging activities in sustainable-use areas, promoting strong enforcement against illegal deforestation, and supporting the implementation of REDD+ projects. These actions are critical for avoiding substantial carbon stock losses and for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from this region. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 3419 KiB  
Article
Circular Economy in Charcoal Production: Valorization of Residues for Increased Efficiency and Sustainability
by Angélica de Cássia Oliveira Carneiro, Humberto Fauller de Siqueira, Ricardo José Tauffer Barros, Antonio José Vinha Zanuncio, Amélia Guimarães Carvalho, Vicente Toledo Machado de Morais Junior, Luciano Cavalcante de Jesus França, Amanda Ladeira Carvalho, Dandara Paula da Silva Guimarães, Evanderson Luis Capelete Evangelista, Olivia Pereira Lopes, Shoraia Germani Winter and Iara Fontes Demuner
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3191; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073191 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 555
Abstract
This study explores a circular economy approach in charcoal production, utilizing combustion gases from the process itself to optimize efficiency and quality, minimizing waste and reducing emissions. The research investigates the pre-drying of Eucalyptus sp. wood with these gases before carbonization, through an [...] Read more.
This study explores a circular economy approach in charcoal production, utilizing combustion gases from the process itself to optimize efficiency and quality, minimizing waste and reducing emissions. The research investigates the pre-drying of Eucalyptus sp. wood with these gases before carbonization, through an innovative system that directs gases from the carbonizing furnace to a separate drying furnace. Wood samples were dried at 120 °C and 150 °C for 15, 22.5, and 30 h before carbonization. The analysis included the gravimetric yield of charcoal, semi-carbonized wood, and fines, in addition to evaluating key charcoal properties. Results demonstrated that drying with combustion gases at 150 °C increased the charcoal yield by 7%, regardless of drying time. Furthermore, this pre-drying improved charcoal quality, raising fixed carbon content from 74.68% to over 81% and reducing volatile matter from 24.40% to below 18%. These findings highlight that the utilization of combustion gases for wood drying not only significantly enhances the efficiency and quality of charcoal production but also contributes to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative compared to conventional methods. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2281 KiB  
Article
Carbon Content of Amazonian Commercial Tree Boles: Implications for Forest Management
by Flora Magdaline Benitez Romero, Laércio Antônio Gonçalves Jacovine, Angélica de Cássia Oliveira Carneiro, Marcelo Vitor Gualberto Santos Chaves, Eronildo Braga Bezerra, Juan Pablo Sandoval Lafuente, Samuel José Silva Soares da Rocha, Maria Teresa Gomes Lopes and Philip Martin Fearnside
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2960; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072960 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 873
Abstract
Reliable values for carbon content in trees are essential for quantifying forest carbon stocks and estimating carbon dioxide emissions. This study analyzed the carbon content in the boles of commercial tree species in the Brazilian state of Acre, in the southwestern Amazon. Composite [...] Read more.
Reliable values for carbon content in trees are essential for quantifying forest carbon stocks and estimating carbon dioxide emissions. This study analyzed the carbon content in the boles of commercial tree species in the Brazilian state of Acre, in the southwestern Amazon. Composite samples were prepared from wood wedges obtained along each individual’s commercial bole (the trunk from the point of cut to the first significant branch). Fifty-seven trees were analyzed, spanning nine families, seventeen genera, and nineteen species in the Amazon forest. The results revealed a variation in carbon content ranging from 49.08% (±3.36) to 51.81% (±0.6), with an overall mean of 50.48% (±0.42). Handroanthus serratifolius, Astronium lecointei, and Dipteryx odorata exhibited the highest carbon contents. The statistical analysis included the calculation of 95% confidence intervals for each species, indicating the precision of the carbon content estimates. ANOVA analysis showed a large effect (η2 = 0.83), indicating that 83% of carbon variability is due to species differences, highlighting the distinct carbon profiles across species. One species (Ceiba pentandra) showed a significant increase in carbon with height along the bole, while the others showed varying but non-significant trends with height. Mean carbon content differed significantly (Tukey’s post hoc test) among the 19 species studied, with the greatest difference between H. serratifolius and Ceiba pentandra. Although differences between species may seem small, in some cases, they can lead to considerable underestimations or overestimations of carbon stocks and emissions when extrapolated to large areas such as the Amazon. The mean carbon content measured in this study (50.48%) exceeds the 0.47 IPCC default value generally used in national reports to the Climate Convention and in various estimates of deforestation emissions and Amazon carbon stocks. This suggests that both emissions and stocks may have been underestimated. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop