This weekend, on 21 March, the world will mark the International Day of Forests!
The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns. The theme for each International Day of Forests is chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.
The theme for 2020 is Forests and Biodiversity.
“2020 has been referred to as a “Nature Super Year” and must be the year where we turn the tide on deforestation and forestry loss”, says the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres.
The day is celebrated since 2012 when it was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. The organizers are the United Nations Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and other relevant organizations in the field.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Forests are home to about 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.
- Forests and woodlands are made up of over 60,000 tree species.
- More than a billion people depend directly on forests for food, shelter, energy and income.
- Deforestation continues at an alarming rate – 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually and this accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
Learn more here
