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Forest Ecology and Ecosystem Services: A Review of Their Contributions to Environmental Stability and Human Well-Being

Author(s): Vivek Singh 1 , Priya Nair 2
Author(s) information:
1 Gondwana University, MIDC Rd, Complex, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra 442605, India
2 Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya, CXCH+59H, Iksvv, Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh 491881, India

Corresponding author

Forest ecosystems are among the most vital ecological systems, providing essential services that sustain biodiversity, environmental stability, and human well-being. This review synthesizes current literature on forest ecology, ecosystem services, and their contributions to socio-ecological systems, integrating structural-functional forest ecology with ecosystem-service and human well-being scholarship within a single conceptual framework rather than treating these strands separately, as is common in the existing literature. Forests are characterized by complex structural and functional dynamics, including canopy stratification, species diversity, nutrient cycling, and energy flow, which collectively determine ecosystem resilience. The review highlights four major categories of ecosystem services: provisioning (timber, food, and medicinal resources), regulating (carbon sequestration, climate regulation, and water purification), supporting (soil formation, nutrient cycling, and habitat provision), and cultural services (recreation, spiritual value, and ecotourism). These services are deeply interconnected, and forest degradation results in cascading impacts on ecological integrity and human livelihoods. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the critical link between forest ecosystems and human well-being, particularly in terms of health, food security, and socio-economic stability for forest-dependent communities. Global frameworks such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Sustainable Development Goals reinforce the importance of forest conservation for sustainability and resilience. The study concludes that sustainable forest management is essential to maintain ecosystem functionality and ensure long-term environmental and societal benefits under increasing global environmental pressures.

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SUBMITTED: 06 June 2026
ACCEPTED: 15 July 2026
PUBLISHED: 20 July 2026
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 39 days

Cite this article
Singh, V. ., & Nair, P. . (2026). Forest Ecology and Ecosystem Services: A Review of Their Contributions to Environmental Stability and Human Well-Being. Tropical Agroforestry Research Insight, 1(1), 57−70. Retrieved from https://tecnoscientifica.com/journal/tari/article/view/1236
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