The International
Day of Forests is held on 21 March every year. The United Nations General
Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/67/200 on 21 December 2012, declaring that 21
March of each year is to be observed as the International Day of Forests. The
secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in collaboration with the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, are responsible to
facilitate the implementation of the International Day of Forests, in
collaboration with Governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and
international, regional and sub-regional organizations.
It is an
important day on the environmental calendar due to the fact that it raises
awareness about the importance of forests. It provides a platform to raise
awareness of the importance of all types of woodlands and trees. It’s also
about celebrating the ways in which they sustain and protect us. Countries are
encouraged to undertake local, national, and international efforts to organize
activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.
Different events
celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests, and
trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations. Forests
provide priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits as well as play
a critical role in environmental sustainability, food security, and poverty
eradication.
2017
Theme
The theme of
International Day of Forests is decided by the Collaborative Partnership on
Forests. This year’s theme is Forests and Energy. This year, the focus is
placed on the importance of wood energy in improving people's lives, powering
sustainable development, and mitigating climate change.
Undeniably, wood
is a major renewable energy source. It provides the world with more energy than
solar, hydroelectric or wind power, accounting for approximately 45 percent of
current global renewable energy supply (27 percent of total primary energy
supply in Africa, 13 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean and 5 percent
in Asia and Oceania).
Quick
facts about forests
 |
| Source: Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement |
·
The
state of our forests is important to us all here on earth for many reasons –
80% of all terrestrial biodiversity lives in forests, and each year many
species go extinct as a result of them being destroyed.
·
Forests
cover 30% of land, but 3 million hectares are lost per year.
·
Trees
are Nature’s air conditioners – 1 young healthy tree can cool just like 10 air
conditioners running 20 hrs a day.
·
More
than 2 billion people, including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures, depend on
forests for their livelihoods, and use it to cook food, boil water, and stay
warm
·
Almost
900 million people, generally in developing countries, are engaged in the
wood-energy sector on a part- or full-time basis.
·
Forests
equal energy – 90% of fuelwood and charcoal use takes place in developing
countries
·
Sustainably
managed forests can supply renewable, CO2 neutral energy
·
Forests
cover one third of the Earth's land mass.
·
They
perform vital functions around the world.
·
Forests
are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than 80% of
the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.
·
Global
deforestation continues at an alarming rate - 13 million hectares of forest are
destroyed annually.
·
Deforestation
accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that
contribute to climate change.
·
Strategically
placed trees in urban areas can cool the air by between 2 to 8 degrees C.
 |
| Source: Forest Foundation |
People can participate in events such as: include
tree-planting and other community-level events, and national celebrations
including art, photo and film and, importantly, social media outreach.
References
