This literature review synthesizes recent research on use of stable isotopes to advance forest ecosystem management. Stable isotopes provide insights into soil fertility, nutrient cycling, climate variability, and pollution impacts by tracing carbon, nitrogen, and water dynamics. Microbial activity influences on soil conditions are also highlighted. Integration of soil metrics with genomic and forest management strategies allows for an understanding of carbon sequestration and soil health while supporting adaptive approaches to climate change. Seasonal variations in nitrogen uptake and the role of δ¹⁵N in nitrogen cycling illustrate the complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors in temperate and tropical forests. Isotopic tracing reveals how urbanization and pollution disrupt nutrient cycles and inform urban forest conservation efforts through contamination source identification and assessment of heavy metal bioavailability. Recent advancements in isotopic techniques, including multi-isotope systems, enable precise measurements and refine ecosystem-level predictions to guide long-term forest management and restoration efforts. These developments are particularly valuable for assessing impacts of climate, pollution, and anthropogenics on soil health. This review also identifies future research directions, including long-term carbon stability, effects of management practices on isotopic signatures, and microclimatic influences to improve soil conservation and ecosystem sustainability in the context of sustainable land management.