Events
Every 21 March the United Nations raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. In 2019 the International Day of Forests promoted education to Learn to Love Forests. It underscored the importance of education at all levels in achieving sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. Healthy forests mean healthy, resilient communities and prosperous economies.
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The UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012.
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 (CPF), whose members agreed in 2017 that the Day’s theme would provide an opportunity to highlight specific forest contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by considering topics of the annual sessions of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Did you know…?
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Forests cover 31% of the world’s total land area.
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Primary (or ‘old growth’) forests account for 36% of forest area.
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The livelihoods of over 1.6 billion people depend on forests.
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Forests are home to 80% of our terrestrial (ie: non-marine) biodiversity.
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Trade in forest products was estimated at $327 billion in 2004.
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Forests are home to 300 million people around the world.
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30% of forests are used for the production of wood and non-wood products.
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