International Day of Forests
The International Day of Forests is an annual event that takes place on March 21st. The United Nations General Assembly established the day in 2012 to promote the importance of forests and their role in sustaining life on Earth. The first celebration of the International Day of Forests took place on March 21st, 2013.
Forests are essential to the health of our planet. They provide numerous benefits, including producing oxygen, cleaning air and water, providing habitat for wildlife, and regulating the global climate. Forests also support the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide who rely on them for food, shelter, and income.
The history of the International Day of Forests dates back to the early 20th century when countries began to recognize the importance of sustainable forest management. In 1945, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was established with a mandate to promote responsible forest management and conservation.
Over the years, the FAO has worked with governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to promote sustainable forest management practices and raise awareness about the importance of forests. The International Day of Forests is part of this effort to promote sustainable forest management and encourage people around the world to take action to protect forests.
Each year, the International Day of Forests has a different theme that focuses on a particular aspect of forest conservation and management. The themes have included promoting sustainable forest management, highlighting the important role of forests in supporting biodiversity, and raising awareness of the impact of climate change on forests.
See also: $60 Million Awarded to Canopy to Protect the Forests.
The International Day of Forests is an important reminder of forests’ critical role in sustaining life on Earth. The day provides an opportunity for people worldwide to come together to raise awareness about the importance of forests and to take action to protect them.
How to celebrate:
- Organize events such as tree-planting campaigns, photo competitions, or symposiums.
- Go hiking in the woods or a state park.
- Make a leaf scrapbook to teach children about the different types of trees and their importance.
- Think of what you can do to prevent trees from being cut down – borrow books for the library, use recycled paper.
Fun facts:
- Forests cover one-third of the Earth’s landmass and are home to more than 80% of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.
- Forests help protect against extreme weather and are natural carbon absorbers that help to clean the air.
- Forest trees absorb and redistribute approximately 95% of water.
- Forests can help create 80 million new jobs.
- More than 1.6 billion people depend directly on forests for food, energy, medicine and shelter.
- The tallest tree in the world is Hyperion, found in Redwoods National and State Park in California. It is 115.61 meters tall.
- The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world.
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