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It is towards the end of the years 1970 that FAO (a United Nations food and Agriculture Organization) instituted the 21 March International Day of the forest in order to promote the importance of the various functions of the forest ecosystems of the world.

Deep in the Woods !
The objective of the actions carried out in the context of the international day of the forest is to educate the public on the benefits provided by our forests, such as supply of wood, protection against natural hazards, place to relax, refuge for many species, so that they are recognized and valued at fair value.

A World Tree Day ?
Some of our readers were surprised not to find the day of the tree in the pages of this site. Based on our research, this day exists well but seems mostly celebrated in the USA, country from which it originates.

The party was indeed launched by J. Sterling Morton, who was then the Secretary of State for Agriculture, assisted by Robert Furnas, who decided to plant trees on 10 April 1872 Nebraska City. The date chosen seems quite variable depending on the country and it is this lack of unity that has prevented us from inserting this date into our calendar.

"In order to ensure a future for all and to empower everyone to cope with climate change, we need to invest in our forests, through political engagement at the highest level, smart measures, effective enforcement of laws and innovative partnerships and financing methods. » M. Ban Ki-moon, The UN Secretary general

“We share with the forest a common history dating back thousands of years and we sail on the same ship.
For ten thousand years, the forest fed us, Heated, Protected. It continues to provide us with oxygen, to store carbon, to purify the waters, maintaining our water table, to cushion the extremes of climate, and so much more.
But the forest is far from just a cluster of trees. For millennia, she is a fabulous source of emotion and inspiration. She fed our dreams, our tales and legends, it was the playground of our childhood.
Forever, we are foregoing a community of more and dense relations with the forest, its trees and animals. Canadian biologist David Suzuki, great forest specialist, called for a new universal declaration : nor a declaration of independence as there are so many, but the declaration of interdependence of all living.
What forest do we want ? It all depends on the men we want to be. It all started in the forest, and it is in the forest that the future of man is played out.” Jacques PERRIN Sponsor of the International Day of Forests

International forest day provides a platform to raise awareness on the importance of all types of forests and trees in general.

Forests cover about a third of the planet and they play a fundamental role in global and national economies. Nearly 1.6 billion people, more from 2000 indigenous cultures, depend on forests for their daily subsistence and survival in the long term.

Forests are ecosystems richest in terms of biodiversity. They contain more than 80% species of animals, plants and insects on Earth. Forests also provide shelters, jobs and security for the populations that depend.
Forests also play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. They contribute to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture in the air and protect watersheds that provide 75% global fresh water.

Yet, Despite all these valuable benefits ecological, economic, social and health, We are destroying the forests that we need to survive. Global deforestation continues at an alarming rate : 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed every year. Deforestation is responsible for 12 to 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the warming of the planet.

A special event for the International Day of Forests, titled “International Day of Forests : creating a future adapted to climate change”, will be held on 20 March 2015 at United Nations Headquarters in New York between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Economic and Social Council Chamber (Ecosoc).