International Day of Forest – 21st March 2023

We celebrate International Forest Day on 21st March every year. This day develops awareness among people about the importance of forests and trees outside the forest for the current and upcoming future generations.

Forests are regulating the climate of our planet by absorbing Carbon dioxide and providing fresh Oxygen.

From oxygen we inhale to a piece of tissue paper we use, trees are playing a very important role in our daily lives.

International Forest Day 2023 Theme

Historical Background of International Day of Forest

On 21st December 2012, a resolution (A/RES/67/200) passed in the general assembly of the UN declaring 21st March of each year International Day of Forests.

Through this resolution, the UNencouraged member states to promote activities of tree planting and other social activities encouraging forestation and discouraging deforestation.

The primary aim of international forest day is to develop awareness about the importance of forests. Keep reading the article to develop a better understanding of Forest.

International Forest Day – What is a Forest?

Forest is an extensive area dominated by trees. Forest is not the only collection of trees, it develops a complex ecosystem that flourishes the lives of animals, stabilizes the climate, and provides a lot of other economic benefits.

International Forest Day – What is in the Forest?

Forests are not just a collection of trees, but much more than that. 80% of the world’s biodiversity houses in the forests. The ecosystem of the forest includes plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi.

How Does a Forest Form?

A forest is formed where the trees and animals can thrive together. Any land combined with particular weather conditions that can support the ecosystem will enable the forest to develop on that land. When left to grow, trees will eventually mature and enable the animals to take home to the land.

What is the Importance of Forests?

Below are some reasons forests are important and why we should protect forests.

Support Ecosystems and Habitat Animals

Forests habitat a million animals and support ecosystems. About 90% of the earth’s species habitat in the forests.

All the forest animals form their food chain by interacting with each other, which forms an ecosystem. A healthy ecosystem is critical for animal lives.

Besides animals, millions of indigenous people live in the forests and depend upon forests for survival.

Air Purification

Forests act as atmospheric air filtration and supply fresh oxygen. During the daytime, plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and provide oxygen. This process acts as air filtration and supplies us with fresh oxygen to breathe in.

Climate Stabilizer

Forests act as a climate stabilizer because trees and plants help in lowering the atmosphere’s temperature.

In urban areas, trees can reduce the dependency on air conditioners.

Large forests regulate the temperature of the region by absorbing SUN heat and resulting in rainfalls because of evapotranspiration.

Enriching Soil

Plants and trees in the forest help in recycling the nutrition of soil by the falling leaves and branches.

Medicinal-Pharmaceutical Value

A large percentage of the drug is extracted from the plants and animals that live in the forest.

These drugs are used for diversified treatment purposes, including the cure for cancer.

Economic Benefits:

Forest provides wood and Timbers for buildings, furniture, and other multiple industries.

Forests attract tourism, which is the source of revenue for the local natives.
What Are the Productive Functions of Forests?

What Are the Productive Functions of Forests?

  • Timber
  • Bamboos
  • Food
  • Oils
  • Latex
  • Medicines

What Are Protective Functions of Forests?

Protective functions of the forests are the following.

  • Conservation of soil and water.
  • Prevention of Drought.
  • Prevention against wind, cold, radiation, noise.

What Are Regulative Functions of Forests?

The regulative functions of the forests are following.

Absorption, storage, and release of gases, mineral elements, radiant energy, and water.
What Are Direct Benefits from Forest-Trees?

What Are Direct Benefits from Forest – Trees?

  • Source of raw materials for many industries.
  • It provides timber for furniture and buildings.
  • Serve as a natural habitat for tribal and animals.
  • Enhance Beauty of Landscape.
  • A source of Energy and Wood-fuel.
  • Encourage the return of endangered animal species.
  • The roots of the trees reduce erosion in the rain season and dry areas.
  • Forest replenishes the ground with essential nutrients taken from the air such as nitrogen.
  • The falling leaves of the tree provide a source of organic fertilizer.
  • Trees provide us with fruits, nuts, and proteins.

What Are Indirect Benefits of Forest – Trees?

  • Create a green environment and improve the living standard of local people.
  • The roots of trees stabilize riverbanks and reduce the risks of flooding.
  • Through Tree shades and evaporating leaves, the temperature reduces by 2 to 8 Degree C during the daytime.
  • Forest attracts Bees to enable them to make honey for trading.
  • Forest act as a natural windbreaker.

Causes of De-Forestation

  • Construction of improved roads.
  • Fires in the forest.
  • New hydroelectric projects.
  • Mining

Effects of De-forestation

  • Runoff water and floods.
  • Threaten the survival of tribes and animal species.
  • Reduces forest resources.
  • Soil erosion.
  • Contributes to global warming.

Types of the Forest?

Forest classification depends upon factors like animal species, soil, tree density, and history of geography.

The following are the main forests.

  • Tropical Forest
  • Sub-tropical Forest
  • Boreal Forest
  • Temperate Forest
  • Monsoon or seasonal Forest

Tropical and Sub-Tropical Forest

Tropical and Subtropical forests are also called rainforests. Rainforest is ample leave tree. These forests are evergreen and remain the same throughout the year.

Tropical forests form the thick upper layer called the canopy. These forests are mostly found near the equator. The tropical forest is a type of vegetation and house of 50% of animals and species on the earth.

Tropical forests can absorb a large quantity of carbon dioxide and supply a vast quantity of oxygen. On a rough scale, about 50% of the forests of the world are tropical and subtropical.

Boreal Forest

Boreal Forests are also called Tiaga. The temperature in this type of forest is very low. The temperature can fall to -50 degrees centigrade. The soil of these forests is a thin nutrient. These forests are found at an altitude of 50 to 60.

The animal living in these forests can withstand low temperatures for a long period. Animals like moose, bats, deer, fox, wolf, small mammals, and birds’ habitat in these forests.

Temperate Forest

Temperate forests have all four seasons, spring, summer, winter, and autumn.

The soil of these forests is fertile. These forests can be in both hemispheres at latitude 25-50. Animal species found in this forest are the mountain lion, bobcat, black bear, rabbit, squirrels, and birds.

Monsoon or Seasonal Forest

These forests are very dry and undergo two extreme seasons. The season of heavy rainfall and season of dryness. Forest of this type can be found in Southeast Asia, west and east Africa, North Australia, and eastern Brazil.

Major Forest of the world

Following is the detail of some major forests in the world.

Amazon Forest-South America

Amazon is the most popular and well-known forest in this world. It is spread through multiple countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Surinam, Venezuela, and Guyana. It occupies an area of 7,000,000 square kilometers.

Amazon is the biggest collection of biodiversity species. It is said about the Amazon forest that 1 out of 10 living species can be found in this forest. Thousands of birds, mammals, insects, and animals are scientifically identified and registered here. Amazon absorbs Gigatons of Carbon dioxide.

Taiga, Europe–Asia–North America

Technically Taiga is not a forest, it is a Biome. It is a bioecological system that forms a forest. Most of the part covered by Taiga is Northern America and Northern Russia.

Only in Russia, the area occupied by Taiga forest is 12,000,000 square kilometers which is more than the size of China and India put together! And if North America’s Taiga is also added, then the size becomes even bigger. Taiga is the largest earth surface covering of the world.

Dangerous-Mysterious Forest of The World

Crooked Forest is the most dangerous and mysterious forest in the world. The Crooked Forest is situated in Poland. Although the crooked forest is not very big, there are still very horror factors relating to this forest.

This forest is famous for its very dangerous and rare animals, making it dangerous for its visitors.

The Tree shape of the crooked forest is very interesting, the base portion of the tree is round and then straight. The reason behind the shape of these trees unknown? It is still a mystery.

How to Celebrate International Forest Day – Activities International Day of Forest

International Forest day should be celebrated by the following green acts.

  • Implant a Tree on the lawn of your home, office, and vicinity.
  • Develop awareness about the importance of Forest–Trees among our community.
  • Download posters, banners, logos from the UN site and spread on social media.
  • Conduct a Quiz Competition on the Importance of Forests in educational Institutes.
  • Donate Funds to NGOs, civil society organizations implanting and caring for Forests, Trees & plants.
  • Spare some time to visit nearby gardens or forests, look at their natural beauty and praise their Creator Almighty GOD.
  • Gain a piece of land and encourage the public to implant trees on that land.

International Forest Day – World Forest Day Slogans

Plant a Tree to get Oxygen free.

Save Forests for your kids.

Plant a Tree. Plant a Life.

Each one, Plant one.

If you cut a Tree you cut your life.

Save Tree, Save Life.

Go Green.

Think Green Act Green

The Key to Green Planet is your hand.

Clean and Green is our Perfect Dream.

Think Green.

God has given us green. Let us keep it clean.

Save Nation, Stop deforestation.

Inspirational Quotes on Trees

“ The Death of The forest is End of our Life” (Dorothy Stang)

“ The Best Time to Plant the Tree was 20 years ago the next best time is today” (Chinese Proverb)

“ Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago”.(Warren Buffet)

” Even If I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree” (Martin Luther)

“ A Man Does not plan tree for himself. He plants it for posterity”(Alexander Smith)

“ The trees that are slow to grow, bear the best fruit”(Moliere).

In conclusion, forests are very important in maintaining the pleasant climate of our planet, providing shelter of animals, a source of energy, and raw material for multiple industries.

Forests are the natural beauty of our landscape. Let us implant new trees and stop deforestation and make a commitment with ourselves to provide Green Future to our Children.

Let us spread the word of awareness. Think Green, Act Green, Go Green.

Thanks for reading this article. Happy Awareness on International Day of Forest on Event of Day.

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