Education crucial for safeguarding future, says FAO at special event to celebrate many roles of forests

“We see across the globe young people getting involved and raising their voices to step up action to preserve the planet. We all have the responsibility to ensure that this will happen to safeguard a better world for our children and the future generations,” said Carla Mucavi, Director of the FAO Liaison Office to the United Nations, during a special event in celebration of the International Day of Forests on 21 March at the UN Headquarters in New York.

In recognition of these important interlinkages between forests and education, the central theme of the 2019 International Day of Forests is “Forests and education.”  The International Day of Forests is observed annually on 21 March, provides a global platform to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and trees.

Organized by the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat hosted under the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), the event highlighted how forests and education are essential for creating a sustainable future for all.

The event featured remarks by senior UN and government officials, a panel discussion, a series of multimedia presentations by youth groups and a general discussion by Member States.

“Throughout human history, forests & trees have served as outdoor classrooms, providing healthy space for learning & fostering environmental stewardship in children from an early age,” said Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination & Inter-Agency Affairs at UN-DESA, during her opening remarks.

Mucavi delivered her intervention during a penal discussion on the theme, “Forests and Education: Global & urban perspectives,” informing that, despite serving many vital functions for the ecosystem and livelihoods of the people living in it, the world's forests are being threatened by the cumulative effects of deforestation, land degradation and competition for alternative land uses.

Against this backdrop, she noted that the 2030 Agenda underscores the vital role forests play in addressing todays challenges, such as tackling climate change, ending hunger and keeping urban and rural communities sustainable.

Mucavi also highlighted the many ways by which FAO has been at the forefront of addressing forestry management since its inception, including technical expertise and global public goods manifested through policies, statistics and international instruments, as well as its flagship publications such as “The State of the World Forests.”

She provided examples of FAO’s educational programmes targeting youth, including a project announced in Rome to increase forest literacy among children aged 9-12 in Tanzania and the Philippines, and the Youth Guide Books and Challenge Badges, used by millions of scouts and school children around the world.

The International Day of Forests was established by the UN General Assembly in 2012.  Activities held around the world range from scientific conferences and workshops, to art exhibits, tree-planting and community-level events. The theme of the International Day, “Celebrating Forests and Education,” reflects the multi-faceted values of forests, highlighting how forests enrich our daily lives and support global sustainability.

Relevant links

Statement by Carla Mucavi, Director of the FAO Liaison Office to the United Nations

International Day of Forests webpage

Webcast