2024’s International Day of Forests: Date, theme, background, importance, and more
The 2024 International Day of Forests With over 60,000 different species of trees, forests are home to around 80% of terrestrial biodiversity globally, according to the United Nations. A little over 1.6 billion people directly depend on forests for their income, food, shelter, energy, and medical needs.
2024’s International Day of Forests:March 21 is observed as International Forest Day
Worldwide, March 21 is observed as International Forest Day or World Forestry Day to increase public awareness of the value of forests, trees, and other natural areas in our lives. It is critical to recognize the worth, significance, and role that forests play in maintaining the equilibrium of Earth’s life cycles. On this day, topics like deforestation are also covered.
The United Nations celebrates or promotes the International Day of Forests on a local, national, and international scale in collaboration with governments, community organizations, and the general public. This article discusses the value of forests in our lives, the origins of International Forest Day, its celebration on March 21st, and the theme for this year.
The United Nations claims that trees are very beneficial to human health. In addition to improving our well-being, they clean the air, cleanse the water, store carbon to combat climate change, and produce food and life-saving medications. It is our responsibility to safeguard these priceless natural treasures.
2024’s International Day of Forests:Forests and sustainable production and consumption”
“Forests and sustainable production and consumption” is the subject of the 2022 International Day of Forests. “Forests and Sustainable Cities” was the 2018 International Day of Forests theme. The festival will give communities and individuals a forum to learn about how forests both sustain and protect us on a local, national, and worldwide scale.
They are essential to the Earth’s life cycle. On this day, a variety of events are held, such as tree planting drives, photo ops that highlight the value of trees and forests in our lives, and message and information-sharing campaigns to raise awareness via social media and groups.
Because healthy forests lead to healthy people, 2023 is a year to give as well as receive.
Read | Natural resource degradation: causes and impacts
2024’s International Day of Forests: History of the International Day of Forests
It is known that forests occupy almost one-third of the planet’s land area. For a living, people and many indigenous cultures rely on trees. In addition to giving animals and insects a place to live, forests also maintain air quality, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and humidity levels, safeguard watersheds that feed rivers with clean water, and much more.
The first International Forest Day was declared on November 28, 2012, and the date of celebration was set for March 21. Subsequently, World Forestry Day and International Forest Day were combined by the UN General Assembly, which agreed to commemorate on March 21 annually. It’s critical to recognize the benefits of forests, trees, and plants since they offer a source of raw materials, create jobs locally, and other benefits.
World Forestry Day was instituted in 1971 during the 23rd European Agricultural Confederation General Assembly. It was determined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to be observed on March 21 of each year. It was decided to hold the event to raise public awareness of the value of trees.
Thus, it makes sense that March 21 is designated as World Forestry Day, also known as the International Day of Forests. Homes are found in forests. It is necessary to preserve the equilibrium of life on Earth, enhance the local climate, provide tourism, supply oxygen and store carbon dioxide, enhance mental health, fend against illness, and create social spaces.
