Advancing Sustainable Forest Management: Economic Values and Conservation Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue seeks to deepen interdisciplinary understanding linking ecological, economic and social dimensions of forest management in order to propose and evaluate practical, innovative and sustainable solutions in the context of global environmental challenges. The papers included in this Special Issue will aim to provide a multidisciplinary platform that integrates economic theory, empirical research and environmental practice, with an emphasis on economic values, strategies and policies that support the long-term sustainability of forest ecosystems.

Forests are critical to maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity and providing economic and social benefits to human society. However, with escalating pressures from deforestation, climate change and competing land uses, the need for sustainable forest management (SFM) has never been more urgent. This Special Issue aims to explore the intricate balance between conservation and economic utility, offering insights into how forests can be managed sustainably to serve both ecological and economic objectives.

This Special Issue will collate interdisciplinary research, case studies and innovative strategies addressing the dual challenges of forest conservation and the sustainable extraction of forest resources. It seeks to enhance our understanding of the economic value of forests—including their ecosystem services, carbon sequestration potential and role in local and global economies—while also emphasizing conservation strategies that protect biodiversity, mitigate climate change and ensure forest regeneration for future generations.

(1) Introduction.
Forests are the backbone of global ecosystems; they regulate climate, retain water, protect biodiversity and provide resources for millions of people. However, current management practices often fail to take into account long-term environmental and economic impacts. With growing challenges such as climate change, deforestation and loss of ecosystem services, it is proving essential to find strategies that link sustainability with economic development. This research is crucial because it addresses ways of reconciling the human need for growth with the limits of natural systems.

(2) Aim of the Special issue.
This Special Issue aims to explore new approaches to sustainable forest management from an economic and environmental perspective. It focuses on methods of quantifying the value of ecosystem services, designing effective policies and identifying innovative strategies that link conservation with economic interest. This subject area fits the scope of the journal perfectly, as it brings an interdisciplinary perspective to key issues in contemporary environmental economics and we apply this perspective to forest ecosystems.

(3) Suggest themes.
The economic value of forests: quantifying benefits beyond timber—regulating water, carbon cycles, biodiversity and more.
Policies and tools for sustainable management: the role of subsidies, carbon credits, taxes and innovative market mechanisms.
Technological innovation: how technology (drones, AI, blockchain) can be used to monitor and manage forest ecosystems.
Biodiversity versus economics: the conflict between conservation and logging—case studies and proposed solutions.
Ecosystem accounting: incorporating forest values into economic statistics and decision-making processes.
International cooperation: global initiatives such as REDD+ and their impact on local forest governance.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Jitka Fialova
Dr. Petra Hlavackova
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.

• sustainable forestry
• forest economics
• biodiversity
• forest conservation
• climate solution
• forest policy
• innovation in forestry
• environmental economics