Every year, March 21 is celebrated as World Forest Day to raise awareness about the importance of forests. The United Nations Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) organize events on this day every year.
Forests are essential for the survival of all living beings on our planet. They provide food, shelter, and clean water to millions of people, and they play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Forests also help to combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in trees and soil.
World Forest Day 2023: Theme
On World Forest Day, the United Nations announces a new theme every year. By using a theme, event organizers can ensure the topic of discussion is the same throughout the world. The theme of World Forest Day 2023 is “Forests and Health.”
We get vital health benefits from forests, which is the theme of World Forest Day 2023. The resources could be medicinal plants, food, or just clean, fresh air.
World Forest Day: History
The International Day of Forests was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 November 2013. A World Forestry Day resolution was adopted at the 16th session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Indonesia inaugurated the first World Forest Day in 2007. It was adopted by the United States as an international day in 2013. The United Nations has been celebrating World Forest Day every year since 2013.
World Forestry Day: Significance
World Forestry Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of forests and to encourage people to take action to protect them. It also aims to promote sustainable forest management practices that ensure the long-term health and productivity of forests.
Read More: 21 March in Indian and World History
One of the ways to protect and restore forests is through reforestation and afforestation. Reforestation involves planting trees in areas that were previously forested but have been cleared, while afforestation involves planting trees in areas that have never been forested before. These practices can help to increase forest cover, restore biodiversity, and mitigate climate change.