INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS

FORESTS UNDERPIN LIVELIHOODS, GENERATE EMPLOYMENT, REDUCE POVERTY AND STRENGTHEN FOOD SYSTEMS FOR BILLIONS OF PEOPLE

21 MARCH

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. The day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. Beyond jobs and livelihoods, forests function as economic infrastructure. They provide essential ecosystem services - including climate regulation, water security, soil protection and disaster risk reduction - that support productivity across agriculture, energy, industry and urban systems. These contributions help sustain economic growth while safeguarding natural capital for present and future generations.