International Day of Forests 2023, United Nations, Forest resilience, Forest Managment, EU forests
Have you ever realised how our health is connected to the forest’s health?
Forests give us so much to our health. They purify the water, clean the air, capture carbon to fight climate change, provide food and life-saving medicines, and improve our well-being.
This is why, the 2023 theme of the International Day of Forests, "Forests and health," highlights the crucial relationship between forests and human well-being. Rather than solely exploiting forests for their resources, the theme emphasizes the importance of preserving and maintaining healthy forests in order to promote the health of people. It is our responsibility to protect these invaluable natural resources.
The International Day of Forests is an important day to celebrate the beauty and benefits of our world's forests. Observed every year on March 21st, this day is an opportunity to recognize the vital role that forests play in our lives, and to promote their sustainable management and conservation. This year's theme emphasizes the strong connection between healthy forests and human well-being.
Forests provide us with countless benefits, from clean air and water to timber and non-timber forest products. They are also home to a wide variety of wildlife and play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But forests are under threat from deforestation, illegal logging, and forest fires, which can lead to devastating impacts on both the environment and human communities.
That's why good forest management is so important. Forest management is the process of managing forest resources in a sustainable way, to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Effective forest management helps to ensure the health and vitality of forests, while also providing a range of economic, social, and environmental benefits.
One of the key ways that healthy forests benefit people is by supporting human health and well-being. Forests provide a natural environment for physical activity, which can improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress, and boost mood. Forests also provide a source of natural medicines and traditional remedies and play a crucial role in maintaining the health and productivity of ecosystems that provide us with food, fiber, and other resources.
But to reap these benefits, we need to ensure that forests are managed sustainably. This means protecting forests from deforestation and forest fires, promoting reforestation and forest restoration, and implementing policies and regulations that support the sustainable use of forest resources. It also means working collaboratively with local communities and other stakeholders to ensure that forest management practices are socially and environmentally responsible.
In what way does ONEforest contribute to the well-being of the forest? The development of a Multi-Criteria Decision Support System by ONEforest aims to enhance forest resilience, align stakeholder interests, and ensure sustainable wood flows in common forest management. This system targets various stakeholders in the forest and wood sector, including forest owners, both public and private, as well as companies operating in the wood industry. Additionally, it offers valuable insights to companies in associated fields, green entrepreneurs, policymakers, NGOs, multipliers, and the scientific community.
On this International Day of Forests, let us celebrate the beauty and importance of healthy forests for healthy people. Let us also commit to promoting sustainable forest management practices that support the health and well-being of both forests and people. Together, we can create a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.
