At forests they are essential for the maintenance of life on Earth. They are responsible for maintaining most of the fresh water sources on the planet, shelter a large part of the biodiversity, both fauna and flora; they, especially riparian forests (near rivers), maintain the integrity of rivers, protect soils from erosion, and provide us with a better quality of life, among many other aspects.
Thinking about the need to sensitize the human population about the importance of forests for the maintenance of life on Earth and need to preserve them, in 1971, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) suggested the creation of the “World Forest Day”. The commemoration of the date was set for March 21, due to the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, from which the idea of creating the date started. Thus, on March 21 of the following year, in Europe and in many other regions of the world, the first “World Forest Day” or “International Day of Forests”.
In 2012, the United Nations (UN) launched a resolution for the creation of the “International Day of Forests”, which would be celebrated on March 21 of each year. The creation of this new celebration arose in order to reinforce the importance of forest ecosystems as well. as the importance of all ecosystems for sustainable development and the need for preserve them.
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In March 2013, the UN celebrated the first “International Day of Forests”, releasing some estimates. According to the Organization, both deforestation and land management are responsible for 17% of carbon dioxide emissions (one of the main gases that contribute to global warming) generated by the being human. However, in recent decades the deforestation rate has fallen by 20%, according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in an interview with UN Radio.
This drop in the deforestation rate was considered encouraging, but we still have to reduce it further. Reinforcing this need, Ban appealed to governments and civil society to reduce deforestation and poverty. He suggests the promotion of alternative livelihoods that demand less use of forest resources. that around 3 million people use wood as a fossil fuel and approximately 750 million live in forests.
To ensure the integrity of forests, the UN wants illegal deforestation to be eradicated, proposing that countries support its “Zero Illegal Deforestation” campaign, promoting tree planting and deforestation control illegal.
By Flávia Figueiredo
Graduated in Biology
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
MACHADO, Flávia de Figueiredo. "International Day of Forests"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biologia/dia-internacional-das-florestas.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
