Dear Colleagues,

New studies are urgently needed that highlight developments in forest science in response to the changing climate and landscape degradation. This Special Issue focuses on all aspects of forest ecosystems across the major biomes: strategies are required for conservation and restoration to help resolve problems introduced by monocultures, resource conflict, expanding populations and forest exploitation. We particularly invite work that draws attention to and unifies today's topical themes and presents novel analyses. 

Covering around 30% of the Earth’s land area, forests are fundamental for landscape protection, providing vital habitats for millions of species as well as being important sources for clean air and water, which is crucial for combating climate change. Papers are called for on the following topics:

• Tropical forests are a major concern, as their continuing destruction may pose the greatest threat to our planet’s biodiversity.
• Dryland forests, although lower in species numbers, require initiatives to combat land degradation, protect vulnerable species and support human livelihoods.
• Temperate forests have become almost universally fragmented with species numbers plummeting, which greatly weakens the ecological support chain.
• Boreal forests are threatened by differential rates of permafrost thaw. Studies of mechanisms associated with forest loss are essential for predicting future interactions between land surface processes and the climate system. 

Field studies, measurement and monitoring, data analysis, and remote sensing are effective tools for investigating ecological processes. Understanding an ecosystem’s ability to withstand disturbance, control erosion, shelter biodiversity and provide food, water and energy is crucial. Scientifically based practical advice is sought to reverse this pending disaster on a global scale. We look forward to your contribution to the field of forest science.

Dr. Vanessa Winchester
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. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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.

• forest science
• degradation
• ecosystem
• biodiversity
• strategies
• resource conflict
• forest exploitation
• climate change
• mechanisms
• forest loss

• Forest Ecosystems: Protection and Restoration in Land (10 articles)