Source: March | 2022 | UN-DESA-VOICE

Vol 26, No. 03 – March 2022

Trees for life – an inspiration to live more sustainably

“Regardless of where we live, the world’s forests sustain us all,” says Yan Lang, Programme Management Officer, in UN DESA’s Forum on Forests Secretariat, as we catch up ahead of the International Day of Forests on 21 March. Ms. Lang describes the current state of our forests and what actions we can take to protect them.

Forests play a critical role for life on Earth. Can you explain why and give some examples?

“Forests and trees have sustained life on Earth for millennia. They are diverse, complex living ecosystems that are home to rich flora and fauna – from microscopic bacteria and fungi to flowering plants and towering trees; from birds, bees, and butterflies to bears, deer, and primates. Furthermore, forests are home to people, including indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities.  They sustain the livelihoods of people in rural communities, including billions who depend on smallholder agriculture for their subsistence. For many communities, forests are a source of food, fuel, and health – including fruit, nuts, mushrooms, insects, wild animals, wood, and medicinal plants. And regardless of where we live, the world’s forests sustain us all; through the water we drink, the air we breathe, the rain that nourishes our crops, and the social and cultural values that forests and trees embody.”