Everything we come across in our daily life has a direct or indirect connection with the forests, the desperation has been increasing day by day and with the passage of time, a day has been suggested to make the people concerned and careful about the insecurity of life without forests.
International Day of Forests 2022 is on Monday, 21 March 2022. This day is observed on the United Nations (UN) recommendation every year on the 21st of March. The first-ever forests day was observed on 21st March 2013 and hence this year, it would be the 10th time of its annual observance.
Theme of International Day of Forests 2022
The theme for IDF 2022 is “Forests and sustainable production and consumption”.
Today, the world is confronting extraordinary difficulties, with environmental change being the most squeezing. These difficulties are a danger to the prosperity of individuals and nature and call for a guaranteed activity to foster inventive and effective fixes that move the world on the way to harmony and success on a sound planet.
This theme of International Forests Day also means that all the life possible on earth is somehow related to the existence of forests. The water we drink, the medicines we take, the food we enjoy, the shelter we have come under and even the oxygen we need, all have an association with forests. And we can never deny such vitality when life is running with their animation.
While the theme of IDF for the previous year 2021 was “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”.
Why We Celebrate International Forests Day?
Purpose of World Forests Day
The fundamental purpose to celebrate an international day of forests is to let the people know about the significance of trees. The most critical phase from which the world is passing through now-a-days is a complexity in the form of Climate Change. The proportion of Ozone has decreased to a threatening level while the only reason behind it is pollution as a result of human activities on earth. Despite having alternate means, these producers and providers of oxygen are badly affected and are being uprooted for industrial and domestic use. A dangerous rise in the temperature and adverseness in the seasonal cycle is a vivid gesture of vulnerable destruction and the decline of life on our planet. Among the UN’s other motives to comply with, tackling climate change at the moment comes in preliminary categories and this is what signifies the observance of this day with more passion, zeal and determination.
The international day of forests is also an attempt to demoralize the process of deforestation for the sake of urbanization and modernization. Let not the world destroy the beauty of this universe through deforestation. The inorganic and artificial sources of joy can bring a temporary smile but cannot be a source of permanent happiness and pleasure, as the forests are. Hence the purpose of this day is to urge every individual to contribute what he or she can to secure this planet on their part.
History and Background of International Day of Forests
With the rise in population every year and the evil of human activities in the form of deforestation and pollution, it has been difficult for the world community to observe the activities of every individual but to take up with issues has always been concerning and provocative. The matter of specifying a day for the forests has remained under-consideration in several meetings of the United Nations since 1971. However, by the resolution of the UN’s General Assembly in November 2012, it was somehow decided that March,21st must be appointed an International Observance day for forests.
The secretariat of the United Nations forum on forests and the Food and Agricultural Organization together stressed upon the vitality of forests and a day to be observed for the awareness of their importance. Many governments have also been involved in this motive forming Collaborative partnerships on forests whereas, many other regional organizations under these governments have worked diligently for the nomination of this day. The venues of seminars on forests organized by the UN also do change every year (from country to country) to involve the whole world community and to engage everyone in the awareness about the sensitivity and need of forests. The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) had already organized 6 Forest days in cooperation with the annual meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties and with other organizations before the UN’s resolution to establish 21st March as an International Day of Forests.
International Year of Forests
Based upon the UN’s concern over climate change; Global-Warming and Deforestation, the year 2011, was declared as an international year of forests. The year was specified to grow more trees, spread awareness to fight against climate change due to deforestation.
Activities on International Day of Forests
- Planting trees as a demonstrative symbol of their significance.
- Wearing shirts with slogans that may draw the attention of people.
- Visiting beautiful places where trees are in greater number to feel the fragrance, calmness and affection of forests.
- Arranging seminars in schools, offices and other works places to show our concern towards global changes due to deforestation.
- Starting a campaign on print and electronic media and thus helping to stop deforestation by calling it a social crime.
- Pasting banners and pamphlets on trees that may forbid people from cutting a tree.
Facts about Forest
- Every year more than 13.5 million hectares of (32 million acres) of forest are lost, the area is almost equal to the size of England, thus putting world biodiversity in severe danger.
- More than 300 million people of the world live in forests and thus habitat for not only animals and birds but for human beings too.
- Modern researches show that forest therapy is key to treat anxiety and depression.
- 25% of all world’s medicine comes from tropical forest plants.
- Trees in forests are a natural channel to redistribute 95% of the water they absorb to the areas where it is needed most thus causing rain and enhancing the fertility of the soil.
- Although forests are very important, yet 80% of natural forests have been cleared or destroyed which is equal to digging our own grave with our own hands.
- More than 70% of the world’s total economy is directly or indirectly dependent on trees whereas, wood-fuel energy provides 40 percent of the total renewable energy of the world.
Forest Day Quotes
- “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another”. (Mahatma Gandhi)
- “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people”. (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
- “The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demands for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life activity; it affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axe-man who destroys it.”
(Gautama Buddha) - The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shadow you do not expect to sit.
