International Day of Forest
2 min read
By Camryn Hetrick
March 21st is International Day of Forest also known as IDF. The point of International Day of Forest is to show awareness of the importance of each type of forest. International Day of Forest started in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly. Each year there is a different topic about forests. Back in 2015 the topic was raising awareness of the social, economic and environmental benefits of forests. Other topics that have occurred since then include water security, importance and energy source, role in cities and links between forest and education.
One-eighth of global forests are managed for biodiversity conservation, which in simple terms means home of many different species. 50% of the world’s plant and animal species find a home in forests. Forests cover about 4 billion hectares or 30% of the world’s surface. Forest are also crucial to the ecosystem. This is due to the mass amount of carbon and other important services stored in the forest which life depends on. We lost 19 hectares of forest just in 2014, now lost due to human activities.
A way to celebrate International Day of Forest is by hiking around a forest and learning about types of life found inside. Another great way to celebrate is by planting a tree or making a leaf scrapbook for the different kinds of tree leaves. Lastly, make others aware of the importance of forests by wearing a shirt that can draw attention.
When interviewing Jonathan Sadler an adverting student here at Lenape Tech he said, “I think it’s a well-deserved day, considering what forest like has to go through with wildfires, and the impact of climate change that affects the ecosystem around it.” When interviewing Q Patsy, a Cosmo student here at Lenape Tech, she said,” It’s a great idea to celebrate a thing we are constantly losing. I mean we can’t stop cutting down trees so why not celebrate all the benefits it gives us.” It’s a day to celebrate something most don’t think about celebrating. So, make sure to give back to the environment and show your gratitude for everything the forest gives to us.
