International Day of Forests 2024: The world celebrates the International Day of Forests on 21st March every year with the aim to increase awareness about the significant role forests play in sustaining lives on this planet. Forests provide food, water, and shelter to animals and humans as well. They reduce the impact of events like floods, climate change.
International Day of Forests: History
The UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) declared 21st March as International Day of Forests in the year 2012 to honor and create awareness about the value of all kinds of forests.
International Day of Forests 2024: Theme
World Forest Day is celebrated with a particular theme every year. The International Day of Forests 2024 theme is Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption.
Forest sustainable management and resource use are crucial to prevent climate change and contribute to present and future generations’ well-being and prosperity.
International Day of Forests: Significance
Forests cover 30 percent of the surface of the Earth and they are sources of clean air, water. As per the UN study, forests can lift one billion people out of poverty and they can also create an additional 80 million green jobs.
The UN agency on climate change revealed the deadly consequences of climate change across the world in the upcoming decades. So, this day becomes significant to encourage leaders to address one of the most pressing challenges of our times.
Forests also act as shields from zoonotic diseases. In fact, one out of three outbreaks of emerging diseases is linked to deforestation and other land-use changes.
