UN Officials Call Upon Countries to Boost Resources Dedicated to Forests

“Forests are the lungs of our planet,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message marking the International Day of Forests, observed on 21 March. “They cover one third of all land area and are home to 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity. They are crucial for addressing a multitude of sustainable development imperatives, from poverty eradication to food security, from mitigating and adapting to climate change to reducing disaster risk.”

He continued: “The International Day of Forests is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of all types of forests and trees to our economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being. However, awareness must be coupled with concrete action.”

Read the full press release.