An area with high density of trees is generally referred as forest.The forest on the whole accommodates about 30% of total land area. However there is a considerable reduction which was initially covering a total of about 50% of the total land area. These forests essentially function as habitats for organisms, hydrologic flow modulators, and soil conservers, constituting one of the most important aspects of the Earth's biosphere. The forests help to control our planet's temperature, provide us with oxygen and absorb pollution. It is not only home for all living species but also the forest is one of the best and continuous sources of rich nutrients. Studying in deep will make us realize that the place we are living today was initially a forest area.
Thus World Forestry Day has been celebrated around the world on March 21st every year to alarm the people in the society about the importance and significance of forests and the scores of benefits which are gained from them. The origin of the concept of celebrating this World Forest Day came up at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture in 1971.The celebration also involves bringing awareness in people about the anatomy of forestry like protection,production,recreation and the major contribution to the living organisms. March 21st was chosen to be observed as World Forest Day for it is both the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the duty of each and every individual to participate in deforestation and creation of new forests.
Importance of Forests
The significance of forests and its importance dates back even much before the prehistoric days. The forests promote or enhance well-being of environment, people, and animals. Today the development in the industrial domain is at the cost of clearing away forest and thereby reducing the vegetation. Forest is a major source of furniture, houses, ships and railway sleepers, plywood, fuel wood or charcoal, paper, processed wood products like cellophane, plastics, synthetic fibers like rayon and nylon, rubber from the latex of rubber tree. Apart from the benefits of the forest to the mankind is innumerous way like in preventing floods where the roots of the trees hold the soil together and thus help to conserve soil by preventing rapid runoff of water after heavy rain. Sustainable Management of Forest has been recognized in the Earth summit at Rio and it has been stressed the need for enhancing the tree cover to 33% by 2012 to combat the global warming.
The World Forest Day brings together participants from a diverse range of forest stakeholders, academics and decision makers from around the world, to discuss key issues that discuss about forests and issues related to it. There are themes decided for the day every year and the participants take part in its related activities and events. The celebration also includes awards for those who have achieved in the domain of forestry. There are so many organizations and societies which work on the World Forest Day conducting various events and activities. One can also hold a presentation at the workplace, schools, colleges or community centre on the importance of forest. Sometimes there are invites for people who are working on the preservation of forest to talk about the contribution of the community towards the welfare of the forest. Thus such events and activities always promise to encourage a sense of inspiration in the public. Globally many social meets and cultural events are organized to emphasis on the World Forestry. Also on this day the school children and sometimes even the political leaders celebrate the day by planting saplings symbolizing preservation and creation of forest. There are Forest awareness rally held in different parts of the world.