International Day of Forests and Trees

On March 21, 1971, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization declared this as World Forestry Day to share information, research, and project updates on forests and forestry around the world. This day was chosen because it is the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.

In many United Nations member-states, this day is also called International Forestry Day, World Day of Forests, Forest Day, and other related titles. It provides governments and individual organizations an opportunity to champion best forest stewardship and to help people to learn and reflect upon the importance of forests in their daily lives.

Forests cover about one-third of Earth’s landmass, providing habitat for more than half of our terrestrial species of animals and plants. For our species alone, forests provide health benefits with fresh air, recreational spaces, nutritious foods, medicines, and clean water. Healthy forests are a planetary water insurance policy.

Without trees, topsoils are lost, freshwater supply disappears, hills and mountains become hazards as unabsorbed rain produces landslides and mudslides. Without trees, protection is removed from coastal areas, plants and animal species disappear, and climate becomes hotter without forest shade and moisture.

This year the International Day of Forests theme is “Forests Mean Business” to celebrate forests and promote the many and increasing number of ways in which healthy forests and trees around the planet provide prosperous bio-economies for healthy, resilient communities of every size. Forest products offer nature-based solutions that generate new economic opportunities as replacements for carbon-intensive materials.

B Bondar