9 Reasons to Celebrate International Day of Forests

When you think about jobs that depend on forests, it probably seems pretty obvious: logging, carpentry and woodworking. But healthy forests provide a plethora of less obvious but no less profound long-term economic values to a range of industries. From foresters to rangers, conservationists, sustainable agroforestry farmers, tour guides, nature photographers, herbalists, foragers, tree planters and more, over 1.6 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods. And just like trees support entire ecosystems, the benefits of jobs in the forest sector ripple across the global economy.

As climate change intensifies around the world, once rare "extreme weather events" like floods, landslides, cyclones, droughts and forest fires become commonplace. With roots that dig deep into the soil, hold everything together and absorb stormwater, fire resistant bark that slows the spread of wildfires, leaves that gradually release water vapor and significantly reduce temperatures, powerful root systems that buffer coastal communities against cyclones, canopies that shelter us from harmful UV rays and so much more, healthy forests are a powerful defense against natural disasters.

Trees are nature’s great healers, but their powers don’t stop at improving the environment and biodiversity. From prolific Cat’s Claw vines found in the Amazon rainforest to magnificent Chaga mushrooms growing off of birch trees in the Russian tiaga, forests have provided medicine to indigenous and traditional cultures for centuries. And western medicine benefits, too: although only 1% of rainforest plants have been researched, around 25% of pharmaceutical medicines used today are derived from them. So protecting forests is as important to our health as it is to planetary health.

From cacao pods to apples, avocados, guava, bananas, coconuts, mushrooms, chestnuts, maple sap and more, forests provide delicious, nutritious food grown right in nature. These foods have traditionally been used to supplement staple diets, providing vitamins, minerals and proteins that rural communities may not be able to get elsewhere. And throughout history, they’ve played an important role in community resilience by helping humans survive food shortages during floods, droughts, famines, conflicts and other emergencies.

80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, including many endangered and endemic species, call forests home. 50% of that biodiversity dwells in tropical rainforests, where it’s common to find hundreds of species in a single hectare. But they’re home to more than just plants and animals: over 300 million people live in the world’s forests, too. And from rural areas to suburbs and cities, billions more depend on them for the ecosystem services they provide, like pure drinking water, clean air, lower temperatures and so much more. 

If you live in a city, this one’s for you: urban trees reduce the dangerous urban heat island effect, lowering temperatures by as much as 8°C. This is especially impactful in low-income areas where the impact of high temperatures can be more deeply felt. And speaking of energy, they reduce the volume of carbon emissions from heating and cooling technologies by helping to regulate temperatures year round. In fact, well-placed trees can reduce air conditioning costs by 30% and heating costs by up to 50%.

Studies show that when we spend even a short amount of time in nature, we can experience increased vigor and decreased depression, anxiety, fatigue, and mental fog. And those that are lucky enough to live near evergreen forests benefit from the high concentrations of phytoncides (airborne essential oils) that they release. These “showers” are part of the tree’s own medicine and provide powerful stress relief and a natural immunity boost that can last for weeks. Simply put: forests help us stay happy, relaxed, and well. 

Because trees use carbon dioxide to build their trunks, branches, roots, and leaves, they are natural carbon absorbers and help to clean the air. In fact, one mature tree can absorb up to 22lbs per year! According to a 2017 analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy's Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, the average American emits around 16.2 metric tons of CO2 from fossil fuels each year. 

Where forests grow undisturbed, life flourishes and the air is filled with the sounds of life. Where they’ve disappeared, everything from the tiniest bee to the fiercest wolf is affected. We evolved with trees and have benefited from their food, medicine, shade, and shelter since our ancestors evolved to live on land. And from towering evergreens to birches swaying in the breeze, from intricate roots gripping deep into the soil to gnarled branches carving out a place in the sky, trees make our world a more beautiful, resilient, and safer place.