Today is World Environment Day. This year, the theme supports the UN’s International Year of Forests and is entitled Forests: Nature at Your Service.
The UN says the day will emphasise “the many essential life-sustaining values that forests provide and the intrinsic link between our quality of life and the health of forest ecosystems”.
For the seven billion people on Earth, our present and our future depend on conserving and restoring the world’s forests. These stunning facts from the UN put this in perspective:
- Forests are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity
- Forests cover 31% of total land area
- 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods
- Forests provide a home to more than 300 million people worldwide
- The total global trade in forest products was valued at around $379 billion in 2005
If you want to get involved in World Environment Day visit the UN’s WED website where there are lots of ideas and resources.
World Environment Day 2011 is being hosted by India. Later this year I’m looking forward to visiting Bangalore as an invited speaker for an event exploring the Art and Joy of Wood.
Gabriel Hemery
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