MARCH 21 - FOREST DAY
What makes Forest Day so important?
March 21 was first established by the FAO in 1971 as "International Day of Forests." Since 2012, this day has been an official United Nations day of action and theme. Since then, the central message of this globally celebrated Day of Forests has been to protect and sustainably use forests instead of destroying them.
In Germany, too, the International Day of Forests reminds us of the diverse importance of forests for our lives and the dangers they currently face due to climate change.
This day is intended to raise awareness of the enormous importance of forests, the environment, biodiversity, and the climate. Forests play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, which contributes to combating climate change. They are also habitats for many animal and plant species that are important for ecological balance.
In addition, forests are an important source of raw materials such as timber, fruits, and medicinal plants, and they contribute to the water balance by storing water and regulating the hydrological cycle. They are also important to humanity, as they are central to people's quality of life and well-being, whether by providing recreational spaces or by supporting local communities that live in and from forests.
World Forest Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the threats facing forests, such as illegal logging, urbanization and climate change, and to emphasize the importance of promoting sustainable forest management and conservation measures.
For March 21, we have compiled some interesting forest knowledge for you:
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Forest enthusiasm in Germany : In Germany, forests are visited by around two billion people annually. Spending time among the trees helps calm the mind and relax the body.
- Forests as a source of income : Forests provide income and even food for millions of people worldwide. Preserving and restoring forests is a valuable investment for every economy – especially in times of demographic change, increasing urbanization, and digitalization.
- Forest damage in Germany : In Germany, approximately 500,000 hectares (4.4% of the forest area) have been damaged by drought and bark beetles and must be reforested quickly. According to experts, more than 500,000 hectares of forest in Germany need to be reforested in the coming years.
- Global reforestation is necessary : There is a great need for action on global reforestation. Human activities have reduced the Earth's forests from six billion hectares to just four billion hectares today. Many forests are also in poor condition due to environmental influences or overexploitation.
- Afforestation and reforestation : Forest restoration encompasses both the planting of new forests and the restoration of degraded forests. Afforestation involves planting new forests on land that was previously unforested, while reforestation aims to restore forests lost due to deforestation, natural disasters, or other degradation. Both practices are critical for conserving biodiversity, combating climate change, and ensuring ecosystem services such as water regulation and carbon sequestration.
- Forests and climate change : New forests contribute to combating climate change through carbon sequestration in soil and biomass, and later through the use of wood products instead of fossil fuels.
- Regional differences in reforestation areas : The available areas for new forests vary from region to region worldwide. One major issue, for example, is competition with agriculture for land that is important for food security for the world's population.
- Albedo effect in boreal regions : Not all reforestation or natural forest expansion is automatically beneficial for climate change. In boreal latitudes, forest expansion can affect the Earth's albedo , the Earth's surface's ability to reflect solar radiation. Replacing snow or ice, which reflects much of the sun's radiation, with forests that reflect less sunlight can exacerbate global warming. The cooling effect of snow is offset by heat storage in forests, meaning the carbon sequestration effect of trees in these regions may not be sufficient to offset local temperature increases.
Protect and sustainably use forests instead of destroying them 💚
Source: www.bmel.de
