World Forestry Day was established in 1971 by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to raise awareness about the importance of forests. It is celebrated annually on March 21st. Forests are essential as they provide resources like wood, fiber, food and help regulate the climate. However, about 13 million hectares of forests are lost each year to deforestation. For World Forestry Day, events focus on educating people about forests and encouraging tree planting to help offset deforestation and climate change.

3. HISTORY OF WORLD FORESTRY DAY
The World Forestry Day was established in the year 1971 at the 23rd
General Assembly of European Confederation of Agriculture. And it was
decided to be celebrated as an annual event celebration on 21st of
March by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. World
Forestry Day was established in the Conference of States members of
Food and Agriculture Organization by voting to establish it. This event
was originated in well planned manner to give support in contributing
towards the public awareness about the importance of the forests.

4. WHY WORLD FORESTRY DAY IS CELEBRATED
Forests are very essential part of the life on Earth. They always fulfill the demands of the human
beings by providing shadow, shelter, refreshment including clean air and water. In the modern
world of growing global population increases the demands of forest products so the forests are
at big risks of deforestation and degradation.
Forests are the complex living community of the trees which provides home and shelter to a big
range of animals and the soil beneath it inhabit the variety of invertebrates, fungi and bacteria
playing significant role in balancing the nutrients cycle in the soil and forest. World forestry day
celebration provides a big opportunity to all the people to learn more about their contributions
in maintaining the well-being of people. During this event celebration people share their views
and ideas by working together to incorporate the forests into future climate change strategies.
According to the resources it has been noted that there is an annual loss of around 13 million
hectares or 32 million acres of the forests by the people. Loss of the forests enhances the loss
of inhabitant animal species to the forest. Deforestation imbalances the balance of natural
climate which lead to the global warming by increasing the CO2 and decreasing the O2
percentage all across the world.
Almost 30% of the total land worldwide is occupied by the forests containing over 60,000 tree
species which are ultimately the great resources of the food, fuel, fodder, essential oils, resins,
latex, gums, medicines, fiber, water, woods for the population of around 1.6 billion poorest
people of the world.

5. HOW WORLD FORESTRY DAY IS CELEBRATED
World forestry day is celebrated every year by visiting the local forests in order
to learn more about their contributions towards the well-being of people. The
countries which are the forest-rich (occupying almost 2/3 of total forested
area) includes Canada, the Russian Federation, Brazil, the United States,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, Indonesia, China, Peru and India.
Almost 1/3rd of all the forests are considered as the primary forests where no
any human activities are seen and the ecological processes are balanced.
Around 6 million hectares of the forests are getting lost due to deforestation
on annual basis.
During the event celebration the tree plantation campaign is encouraged among
the common people through many activities. People are the main target of
this campaign to get aware about the serious imbalance of food production
and population explosion day by day including the contribution of forests in
their lives. They get motivated towards the plantation in the nearby areas as
well as stop the deforestation.

6. 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. On each International
Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and
international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such
as tree planting campaigns. The theme for each International Day of
Forests is chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. The theme
for 2017 is Forests and Energy.

7. 2017 Theme: Forests and
energy
This global celebration of
forests provides a
platform to raise
awareness of the
importance of all types
of woodlands and trees,
and celebrate the ways
in which they sustain
and protect us. This
year we highlight the
importance of wood
energy in improving
people's lives, powering
sustainable
development and
mitigating climate
change.

8. Wood is a major renewable
energy source - Wood
provides the world with
more energy than solar,
hydroelectric or wind
power, accounting for
roughly 45 percent of
current global
renewable energy
supply (27 percent of
total primary energy
supply in Africa, 13
percent in Latin America
and the Caribbean and 5
percent in Asia and
Oceania)
WOOD IS A MAJOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE

9. Wood energy powers economic
development - Almost 900
million people, mostly in
developing countries, are
engaged in the wood-energy
sector on a part- or full-time
basis. Modernizing the wood
energy sector can help
revitalize rural economies
and stimulate enterprise
development – greater
investment in wood energy
production and advanced
wood fuels can provide
revenue to finance better
forest management, more
growing forests and more
jobs.
WOOD ENERGY POWER

10. Wood and trees
contribute to
optimal urban
living and lower
energy bills -
Strategically
placed trees in
urban areas can
cool the air by
between 2 to 8
degrees C.
WOOD AND TREES

11. Wood energy mitigates climate
change and fosters
sustainable development -
Globally, forests hold an
energy content
approximately 10 times that
of the world’s annual primary
energy consumption. They
thus have significant
potential as renewable
resources to meet global
energy demand. Forests
provide clean air, water and
energy. Sustainably
managed forests can provide
renewable and carbon
neutral energy for a greener
future.
WOOD ENERGY

12. Forests for energy, now and in a
future global green economy -
Greater investment in
technological innovation and in
sustainably managed forests is
the key to increasing forests’ role
as a major source of renewable
energy. In this way, we invest in
our sustainable future, in meeting
several Sustainable Development
Goals and in growing a green
economy. Increased areas of
sustainably household and
community woodlots and the use
of clean and efficient wood
stoves can give millions more
people in developing countries
access to cheap, reliable and
renewable energy.
FOREST FOR ENERGY