Forest Research: Open Access
Open Access

Reafforestation is the Key to Recovery and Well-Being, 2021: International Day of Forests

Ravi Patil^{* *}Correspondence: Ravi Patil, Senior Scientist, Department of Agronomy, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India, Tel: +918765432227, Email:

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Editorial

Forests, as we all know, cover one-third of the Earth's land mass and perform critical functions all over the world. Forests support over 1.6 billion people, including over 2,000 indigenous cultures. Forest-dwelling species are mutually reliant on one another. Plants produce their own food through photosynthesis, while animals rely on plants and other animals for food. As a result, a forest is recognised as an ecosystem-forming area.

In 2012, the UN General Assembly declared March 21 to be International Day of Forests (IDF). The Day honours and raises awareness about the value of all kinds of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are urged to organise activities involving forests and trees at the local, national, and international levels, such as tree planting campaigns. The Collaborative Partnership on Forests selects each International Day of Forests' theme. "Forest restoration: a path to recovery and wellbeing" is the theme for the year 2021.

Forests are extremely important to humanity. Forests, for example, aid in sustaining the earth's water cycle, maintaining the temperature and oxygen level of the atmosphere, avoiding global warming and soil erosion, and so on. Forests also provide everyone with health benefits such as nutritious foods, fresh air, clean water, and recreational space. Despite all of these numerous ecological, economic, social, and health benefits, deforestation continues at an alarming rate around the world. According to researchers, the world loses about 10 million hectares of forest each year, and land degradation affects nearly 2 billion hectares. Forest loss and degradation emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases, and at least 8% of forest plants and 5% of forest animals are in imminent danger of extinction. However, the India Forest Report shows that while forest and tree cover are increasing across the country, forest loss continues in northeast India. This is something that all of us are concerned about.

International days are opportunities to educate the public about pressing issues, mobilise political will and resources to address global issues on a larger scale, and celebrate and strengthen humanity's issues on a larger scale, and celebrate and strengthen humanity's accomplishments in large-scale plantation drives. Reafforestation (the act of planting new trees in an area where there was once a forest) is, in my opinion, the key to restoring the deg. It should be widely practised in order to save our planet. Because trees are responsible for maintaining the Earth's atmospheric equilibrium, investing in ecosystem restoration will aid in the healing of people, communities, and the environment.