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FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York

International Day of Forests: towards a greener future with people and planet working together

21/03/2022

FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo delivered a video message at the New York-based virtual global event marking the International Day. 

A virtual celebration of the International Day of Forests brought together the UN community in New York to recognize the vital role of forests for human and planetary prosperity, including in tackling the climate crisis. 

At the meeting organized by the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) Secretariat, the UN Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UN DESA), and the Permanent Mission of Kyrgyzstan to the UN, senior UN officials, Permanent Representatives to the UN and other delegates, and public and private sector actors shared sustainable forest management practices and discussed the theme ‘sustaining forests for a greener future’.

“On this International Day of Forests, we shine a light on pathways to use forests and their products sustainably, to support recovery, and build resilience,” said FAO Deputy-Director General Maria Helena Semedo, in her capacity as the Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, in a video message delivered during the high-level segment.

Echoing this message was the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Collen Vixen Kelapile, who touched on the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution facing us.

“Sustainably managed forests not only offer solutions to offset current crises, but also strengthen our long-term resilience to withstand the shocks of future crises,” he said, adding that forests provide food, energy, and health security to many, especially those living in extreme poverty and working in the informal sector, as well as for women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities.

The International Day served to build awareness and add momentum ahead of the XV World Forestry Congress, which will take place from 2–6 May in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and the 17th Session of the UN Forum on Forests, scheduled for 9–12 May in New York.

Sustainable production and consumption to foster post-pandemic recovery and build resilience

Against a backdrop of rapid urbanization, population growth, and poverty and inequality, it is indispensable to respond to the climate crisis, deforestation, land degradation, and biodiversity loss together.

In this context, Deputy Director-General Semedo touched on three key contributions of forests to our every-day lives 

First, forests provide clean air and water; second, they support the wellbeing and livelihoods of over half of the world’s population; and third, wood inspires nature-based innovations across many fields, such as textiles, furniture, biochemicals, bioplastics, and medicines. 

“Forests and forest-based products play an important role in combatting the climate crisis while contributing to economic recovery,” Semedo said, adding that FAO estimates that forests contain some 662 000 billion tons of carbon, more than half the world’s carbon stocks. 

“Carbon neutrality can only be reached with the help of our forests and the products and services they provide,” she said.

What’s more, wood is a key input for construction materials and a source of energy. Together with forest-based services and forest foods, this means that forests are central to food and energy security.

“Using renewable products, such as wood, is increasingly more important to meet the needs of a growing population and to replace less sustainable and non-renewable materials,” Semedo remarked, calling on reducing the world’s material footprint by choosing sustainable wood production and consumption, including to build greener cities.

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