This study addresses the need for a comprehensive understanding of digestate and biochar in mitigating climate change and improving soil health, crucial for sustainable agriculture within the circular bioeconomy framework. Through a mesocosm experiment, soil was amended with digestates from pilot-scale reactors and two concentrations of biochar produced by pyrolysis of digested sewage sludge and waste wood. The Germination Index (GI) assay assessed phytotoxicity on Lactuca sativa and Triticum aestivum seeds. Greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) measurements, soil characteristics analyses, and the study of microbial community structure enriched the study’s depth. The GI assay revealed diverse responses among by-products, dilution rates, and plant types, highlighting the potential phyto-stimulatory effects of digestate and biochar water-extracts. While digestate proved to be effective as fertilizer, concerns arose regarding microbial contamination. Biochar application reduced Clostridiaceae presence in soil but unexpectedly increased N₂O emissions at higher concentrations, emphasizing the need for further research on biochar’s role in mitigating microbial impacts. CO₂ emissions increased with digestate application but decreased with a 10% biochar concentration, aligning with control levels. CH₄ uptake decreased with digestate and high biochar concentrations. The study underscores the importance of tailored approaches considering biochar composition and dosage to optimize soil greenhouse gas fluxes and microbial communities.

The circular bioeconomy is aimed at achieving sustainable development through high efficiency utilization and resource recycling, and through combining environmental, economic and social objectives. Although the implementation of circular bioeconomy principles is based on a bottom-up approach, the participatory process has often been neglected. To overcome this problem, the present study investigated a case-study with a three-step participatory process. The process aimed to evaluate a forest-wood supply chain with consideration of the circular bioeconomy principles. A set of indicators was identified and assessed by a pool of experts. Then the members of a forest-wood supply chain were consulted to implement the identified actions. Finally, a focus group was organized with key stakeholders to discuss critical issues and strategies for enhancing the forest-wood supply chain locally. The results show that the proposed set of indicators is a useful tool to evaluate the performance of the forest-wood supply chain considering the circular bioeconomy principles. The results of the participatory process and related indicators’ assessment identified the main weaknesses of the forest-wood supply chain. The main strategies to develop the local forest-wood supply chain toward the circular bioeconomy principles were also defined with a participatory approach.

Aimed at reducing structural homogeneity and symmetrical competition in even-aged forest stands and enhancing stand structure diversity, the present study contributes to the design and implementation of adaptive silvicultural practices with two objectives: (1) preserving high wood production rates under changing environmental conditions and (2) ensuring key ecological services including carbon sequestration and forest health and vitality over extended stand life-spans. Based on a quantitative analysis of selected stand structure indicators, the experimental design was aimed at comparing customary practices of thinning from below over the full standing crop and innovative practices of crown thinning or selective thinning releasing a pre-fixed number of best phenotypes and removing direct crown competitors. Experimental trials were established at four beech forests along a latitudinal gradient in Italy: Cansiglio, Veneto; Vallombrosa, Tuscany; Chiarano, Abruzzo; and Marchesale, Calabria). Empirical results indicate a higher harvesting rate is associated with innovative practices compared with traditional thinning. A multivariate discriminant analysis outlined significant differences in post-treatment stand structure, highlighting the differential role of structural and functional variables across the study sites. These findings clarify the impact of former forest structure in shaping post-treatment stand attributes. Monitoring standing crop variables before and after thinning provides a basic understanding to verify intensity and direction of the applied manipulation, the progress toward the economic and ecological goals, as well as possible failures or need for adjustments within a comprehensive strategy of adaptive forest management.

The recreational value of a forest is related to the degree of naturalness that can be measured by considering qualitative and quantitative characteristics of deadwood and habitat trees. Forest user groups’ knowledge and opinions towards forest naturalness can support decision-makers in defining strategies. Among user groups, the literature shows a knowledge gap regarding the new generations’ perceptions and opinions related to biodiversity conservation. The aim of this study is to investigate young generations’ perception and preferences towards deadwood in forests. A questionnaire was developed and administrated online—in Italy and Türkiye—to a sample of university students under 25 years old. A total of 407 questionnaires (187 in Italy and 220 in Türkiye) were collected and processed. The results show that students from both countries have a high level of knowledge of deadwood and its role in forests. Most respondents perceive standing dead trees in forests to be aesthetically negative, while large lying deadwood is perceived as aesthetically positive. The attention of young generations towards issues related to biodiversity conservation is confirmed by the significance given in both countries to the management strategy that closely aligns with natural processes of mortality in undisturbed forests, where deadwood is allowed to remain without removal.

Recently, citizens’ perceptions toward deadwood in forests have become increasingly important in recreational forests for socially sustainable management. The present study aims to investigate how deadwood in forests is perceived by the young generations (university and post-university students). This study was implemented by submitting a web-based questionnaire to 485 Turkish students. The results showed that our student sample perceived the key role in deadwood for soil fertilization, the provision of microhabitats, and food for wildlife. A high percentage of students positively viewed lying deadwood in forests, while standing dead trees were less positively perceived. The socio-demographic characteristics of respondents (gender and age) played a key role in explaining the variations in individual preferences toward deadwood. In conclusion, the results of this study highlight that despite students’ awareness of the ecological role of deadwood in forests, aesthetically they still prefer forests with moderate amount of deadwood or without deadwood. The findings obtained in this study can help decision-makers define a socially accepted forest management strategy.