Raising awareness on forests and health - International Day of Forests

Sustainable forest management provides a path to recovery, good health and a greener future in the country, which hosts approximately 43% of the remaining Upper Guinea forests whose approximately 79% landmass is covered by forests and is recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspots in theworld. (Country Report, Global Forest Resources Assessments, 2020, FAO) 

Under this year’s theme “Forest and Health,” a celebration of the International Day of Forests took place in Buchanan city in Liberia on 21 March 2023. The event, organized by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) of Liberia in collaboration with partner agencies and institutions, brought together the representatives from FDA, local government, development partners, civil society and local students. 

Nearly 50 local students and other participants marched through the main streets of the city to raise awareness among the local community on the importance of protecting the country’s forests and its health benefits to the people. Several local radio channels aired talkshows on forests and health as part of the country’s celebration on the International Day of Forests.The event provided the participants and a wider audience with the opportunity to reflect on the interlinkages of forests and our health and reminded them of the need to strengthen the ongoing efforts to sustainably protect and manage the forest resources in the country.  

“We have a role to make sure our forests are protected,” said Mr. Moses Haynes, the Mayor of the City of Buchanan. He called on all of us to make our own contributions in the forest conservation efforts and encouraged students and young generations to play active roles. 

“All the efforts combined – both the national and international efforts – we can support better,” said Mr C. Mike Doryen, Managing Director of FDA, who later joined the symbolic tree planting on the soil of Buchanan. 

“Forests give us food and nutrition. They also give us medicines that support our health. Forests also allow us to release our stress. It is important to recognize the support we receive from forests and at the same time to support them,” said Emmanuel Comehn, Project Management Specialist at FAO Liberia, speaking on behalf of Ms. Mariatou Njie, FAO Representative in Liberia. He thanked FDA, the government of Sweden and other development partners for the continued collaboration in raising awareness and promoting sustainable forest management in the communities. 

“In Liberia, apart from the traditional drivers of deforestation, such as shifting cultivation, unsustainable logging, charcoal production and plantation establishment, governance of the forest sector is a challenge,” said Mr. Moses A. Massah, Energy & Environment Programme Specialist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Liberia in his keynote speech. “National and international efforts are needed to restore the integrity of Liberia’s forests so that they will provide all the ecosystem services required. Everyone has a role to play.” 

Each of us must take care of the country’s rich forest resources and ecosystem as we do for our health. This year’s International Day of Forests well reminded us of the vital importance of healthy foreststo healthy people.