sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services in Forest Landscapes: Integrating Sustainable Management Practices

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Forestry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 November 2025 | Viewed by 943

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Management Department, Politehnica University Timisoara, 300191 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: accounting; economics; sustainability; circular economy; environmental audit
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Accounting and Audit Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
Interests: accounting; audits; environmental reporting; sustainability; fiscal policy; green economy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of evaluating and improving the environmental performance and efficiency of enterprises cannot be emphasized enough. Governments are implementing environmental regulations and standards, and consumers increasingly prefer to support companies demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. Investors are also focusing on environmental, social, and governance criteria, recognizing that companies with a strong environmental performance are often viewed as lower-risk investments, attracting more capital. The global push toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, along with initiatives such as the European Green Deal aiming for EU climate neutrality by 2050 and ASEAN Community Vision 2025, underscores the significant role of businesses in promoting sustainability and emphasizes environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and the development of green technologies.

Our Special Issue, "Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services in Forest Landscapes: Integrating Sustainable Management Practices", aims to critically examine how enterprises can enhance their environmental performance and efficiency while offering a unique opportunity to contribute to a high-impact area of research with significant global relevance. As sustainability and environmental performance are becoming paramount to both policy and practice, research in this domain is likely to attract substantial attention and achieve many citations.

Research topics may include (but are not limited to) enhancing environmental performance and efficiency within enterprises, emphasizing economic impacts and opportunities, and the following:

  • Innovative Economic Strategies for Sustainable Development;
  • Socio-Economic Impacts of Ecosystem Service Valuation and Management;
  • Sustainable Business Models and Economic Resilience;
  • Economic Policies and their Role in Achieving Sustainability Goals;
  • Technological Advancements and Economic Sustainability;
  • Measuring and Monitoring Ecosystem Services for Economic Sustainability;
  • Cultural and Economic Dimensions of Sustainability;
  • Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns;
  • The Role of Financial Systems in Promoting Sustainability;
  • Economic Implications of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;
  • Financial Systems Promoting Ecosystem Services and Sustainability.

We look forward to your valuable contributions, which will aid the community of researchers dedicated to advancing sustainable business practices and contributing to global sustainability goals.

Conference Information

  1. 28th International Scientific Conference “Competitiveness and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy”, https://conference.ase.md/current-conference/.
  2. Rethinking Management in Adaptive Environments, https://conference.rmee.org.

Dr. Alin Emanuel Artene
Dr. Aura Emanuela Domil
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

  • sustainable business practices
  • ecosystem services
  • economic valuation
  • circular economy
  • sustainable development goals
  • climate change adaptation
  • green technology
  • corporate sustainability
  • sustainable management
  • economic resilience

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 (1 paper)

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

Research

22 pages, 2085 KiB  
Article
Marketing Strategies and Production Profitability of Charcoal in the Rural Zone of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
by Nathan Kasanda Mukendi, Heritier Khoji Muteya, Bienvenu Esoma Okothomas, Dieu-donné N’tambwe Nghonda, John Tshomba Kalumbu, Laurent Ngoy Ndjibu, Fabio Berti, Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Jules Nkulu Mwine Fyama, Philippe Lebailly and Jan Bogaert
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 3915; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093915 - 26 Apr 2025
Viewed by 558
Abstract
The low efficiency of carbonization techniques reduces the income of charcoal producers and exacerbates deforestation in the Miombo woodlands. This study examines marketing strategies and the profitability of charcoal production in the rural area of Lubumbashi. Activity monitoring, from production to sale, was [...] Read more.
The low efficiency of carbonization techniques reduces the income of charcoal producers and exacerbates deforestation in the Miombo woodlands. This study examines marketing strategies and the profitability of charcoal production in the rural area of Lubumbashi. Activity monitoring, from production to sale, was conducted with 20 professional charcoal producers from the villages of Maksem, Sela, Luisha, and Mwawa. Economic and statistical analyses show that charcoal is mainly sold in the village (55%), in Lubumbashi (35%), and in the forest (10%). Overall, the activity is profitable: sales generate an average profit of CDF 462,218.78 (approximately USD 225.47), with a profit margin of 0.46 and a benefit–cost ratio of 0.86. The 57 kg packaging format is the most profitable, with an average profit of CDF 661,062.18 (USD 322.47), a profit margin of 0.66, and a benefit–cost ratio of 1.96. In contrast, the 29 kg bag results in losses: –CDF 24,009.60 (–USD 11.71), a profit margin of −0.20, and a benefit–cost ratio of −0.19. These findings indicate that profitability is influenced by the point of sale, packaging type, and season. Sales price, along with production and marketing costs, are the main economic determinants. Despite apparent profitability, the sustainability of this activity remains a concern. This study recommends improving production practices, structuring of charcoal producers through legally recognized associations, standardizing packaging, and implementing per-kilogram pricing in order to enhance profitability while reducing the pressure on forest resources. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop