Int’l Day of Forests being observed today

International Day of Forests is being observed today (Tuesday) across the globe including Pakistan to raise awareness regarding importance of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

This year's theme of the day is ‘Forests and Health,’ which calls for giving, not just taking, recognizing that healthy forests will bring healthy people.

The day encourages efforts to organize local, national and international activities involving forests and trees, such as tree plantation campaigns.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated March 21 the International Day of Forests in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.

The first-ever International Day of Forests was observed on March 21, 2013.

According to the United Nations, forests are home to about 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity— covering 31 percent of the global land area— with more than 60,000 tree species.

Yet, we are losing 10 million hectares of forest — about the size of Iceland — each year.

The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations.

However, deforestation and forest degradation continue to take place at alarming rates, contributing significantly to the ongoing loss of biodiversity.

According to a UN estimate, more than 1.6 billion people are directly dependent on forests for food, medicines, shelter, energy, shelter, income etc.

Since 1990, about 420 million hectares of forests have been lost. About 10 million hectares of forests are still destroyed every year.

Each year, various events celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests, and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations.

Countries are encouraged to undertake efforts to organize local, national, and international activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns, on International Day of Forests.

“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson