OVERSHADOWED by the COVID-19 pandemic was the recent observance of March 21 as International Day of Forests – an annual event that aims to raise awareness at all levels in strengthening the sustainable management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests and trees outside forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
Forests are vitally important for sustaining life on Earth. It is estimated that around 1.6 billion people – including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures – depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicine, fuel, food and shelter. The protection of the world’s forests is crucial for the survival of humanity.
We hope that authorities and learning institutions must educate more on the ecological, economic, social, and health benefits of forests and their vital role in reducing poverty, protecting biodiversity, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable development.
It is unfortunate that we do not exert the same amount of effort to protect our forests than we do in gathering resources from them. This needs to change. We need to ensure that Filipinos, especially our children, are fully aware and can fully understand the benefits and resources we receive and rely from our forests.
Forests cover one third of the planet’s land mass. They are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than 80 percent of the terrestrial species of animals, plants, and insects.
The Philippines is one of the few mega-diverse countries in the world, but is also considered a biodiversity hotspot due to an alarming rate of destruction brought about by overexploitation, deforestation, land degradation, pollution, and climate change. We already have the laws to protect forests and environment, but these require greater action from authorities, as well as the public, to implement.
The International Day of Forests is a reminder for all our authorities to carry out our landmark laws that protect our forests and our environment and to lead efforts in conveying the crucial role they play in our lives and towards a sustainable Philippines.
