The state of Pinus cultivation in southern Brazil, from the perspective of potential environmental damage, is controversial. Little is known about naturally regenerated forests after clear-cutting Pinus, particularly regarding ferns, forest structure, and soil composition. This study evaluated differences in fern community structure, forest attributes, and soil properties in a regeneration area 15 years after P. elliottii removal, compared to an Araucaria Forest in the Canela National Forest, Brazil. A 1-hectare plot was divided into 100 m2 subplots, with 12 units randomly selected at each site. In each subplot, all fern species were recorded, and their coverage was measured. Forest and soil parameters were also collected. In the Pinus removal area, forest regeneration shows a fern community with lower species richness, greater floristic homogeneity, and a simplified structure compared to the reference area. Tree species structure differs between sites, with a high density of Pinus and absence of Araucaria angustifolia in the regeneration area. These trees are taller, form a more closed canopy, and create thicker leaf litter. The soil at the regeneration site has lower nutritional quality, greater acidity, and higher aluminum concentration compared to the natural forest. Assisted regeneration is recommended to accelerate and improvide forest recovery.

The Peles Park Forest (PPF), a semi-natural peri-urban forest near Sinaia, Romania, is essential in providing ecological benefits and improving human well-being through recreation. As the urban population grows and stress-related health problems increase, green spaces are increasingly recognised for their restorative functions, including air purification, temperature regulation and mental health improvement. This study aims to develop a sustainable management framework that reconciles forest conservation with recreational value use by assessing forest structure, evaluating tourism-related stressors, and proposing adaptive management strategies. We assessed forest structure through tree diameter, height, volume, and crown health measurements, applying principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the main structural drivers. The results revealed a strong correlation between tree diameter and height, modulated by species composition and site conditions. They showed pronounced crown defoliation in the upper canopy layers, particularly among trees of lower wood quality. The findings suggest that uneven-aged stand structures, which support biodiversity and ecological resilience, are subject to tourism-related pressures such as soil compaction and vegetation damage.