International Day of Forests
Context:
The United Nations celebrates March 21 as the International Day of Forests by memorializing the green cover around the world and reiterating its importance.
Background
“Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being” is the theme of the International Day of Forests for 2021.
Details
- The United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as the International Day of Forests (IDF) for the first time in 2012.
- The day creates awareness on the importance of all types of forests. Countries are encouraged to take local, national and international efforts to celebrate activities such as tree-planting campaigns.
- The Day is also celebrated by the United Nations Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- This year’s idea is to focus on how restoration and sustainable management of forests can tackle climate change and biodiversity crisis.
- Forest can also generate goods and services for sustainable development that can create jobs and improve lives.
India’s forest cover
- One fifth of the country’s area is under forest cover. This trend has been observed continuously since independence despite the population increasing more than three times.
- According to State of Forest Report, 2019, India’s forest cover has grown by about 0.56% since 2017.
- The report observed gain in very dense forest with a canopy density of over 70%, and moderately dense forest with a canopy density of 40-70%.