Every year March 21 is observed as the International Day of Forests. The day is observed to reiterate the importance of green cover across the world.
Key Points
- The theme of International Day of Forests 2021 is Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being.
- The day is observed to create awareness about forests.
- The day also aims to encourage tree-planting campaigns and other such activities at the local, national, and international levels.
- March 21 was designated as the International Day of Forests (IDF) by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 2012.
- The resolution for observing the day was passed on November 28, 2012, by the UN General Assembly.
- The first such international day of forests was observed in the year 2013.
History
At the 16th session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization in November 1971, the “States members” voted to establish “World Forestry Day” on March 21 of each year. From 2007-2012, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) convened a series of six Forest Days, in conjunction with annual meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties. CIFOR organized these events on behalf of and in close cooperation with other members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF). Following the International Year of Forests in 2011, the International Day of Forests was established by the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on November 28, 2012.
India’s Forest Cover
Since Independence, a fifth of India’s land has been under forests, despite the population increasing more than three times.
As per the biennial State of Forest Report, 2019, India’s forest cover has increased by 3,976 sq km or 0.56% since 2017. For the second consecutive time since 2007, the report recorded a gain an impressive 1,275 sq km in dense forest (including very dense forest with a canopy density of over 70%, and moderately dense forest with a canopy density of 40-70%).
