On 21 March every year, the United Nations raises awareness of the importance of forests. The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/67/200 on 21 December 2012, which named 21 March the International Day of Forests.
Forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on land, housing more than 80 percent of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects. Forests are also an essential source of timber, fibre, food, medicine and shelter. Despite the invaluable ecological, economic, social and health benefits of forests, 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually. Deforestation -the permanent destruction of forests- accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
The 2019 International Day of Forests promotes education to Learn to Love Forests. It emphasises the importance of education in achieving sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation.
Healthy forests mean healthy, resilient communities and prosperous economies.
Five messages about forests from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations:
- Understanding our forests and keeping them healthy is crucial for our future. Forests will be more important than ever as the world population climbs to 8.5 billion by 2030.
- You’re never too young to start learning about trees. Helping children connect with nature creates future generations conscious of the benefits of trees and forests and the need to manage them sustainably.
- Both modern and traditional knowledge are key to keeping forests healthy. While foresters should know and understand nature well, they should also learn to use cutting-edge technology to ensure that our forests are monitored and managed sustainably.
- Investing in forestry education can change the world for the better. Countries can help ensure there are scientists, policymakers, foresters and local communities working to halt deforestation and restore degraded landscapes.
- Women and men should have equal access to forest education. Gender parity in forest education empowers rural women to sustainably manage forests.
