The United Nations International Day of Forests 2023

The United Nations International Day of Forests 2023

This year's theme is “Forests and Health” but what does the #CelticRainforests actually do for me?

Combat Climate Change

Forests are an important resource in the fight against climate change for a number of reasons. They remove carbon dioxide from the environment to use in the process of photosynthesis (creating energy from sunlight). During growth the carbon is stored in the leaves, the trunk, roots and the soil around the tree. In doing this they create a waste product - the oxygen we breathe!

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Filters and Purifies our Water

Trees filter and clean our water through their leaves, branches and extensive root systems, slowly releasing it back into the environment, and can also reduce the flow of nitrogens and phosphates into waterways

They create a porous soil structure which allows rainfall to soak away gradually which also helps prevent flooding and soil erosion, improving the long-term fertility of soil

Providing Food and Medicine

You can find many plants and trees with edible produce ranging from crab apples to rowan berries, sloes and rosehips, wild strawberries and raspberries, nettles and wild garlic to certain types of mushrooms within our Celtic Rainforests

Some of these mushrooms can also be used as medicine as they have antibacterial properties such as birch polypore, and Asprin is a medicine derived from willow bark!

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Otzi (the Iceman) had a piece of the Birch polypore in his pack when he died around 5,200 years ago!

Create Job Opportunities in Our Communities

We use our forests for work but should do so in sympathetic and sustainable ways, benefiting both nature and humans. There are many and varied roles you can find working within our forests – there’s sure to be something for everyone!

Tree Nursery Operatives grow new trees from seed, Carpenters use the wood from our forests to build things, Ecologists and Conservationists aim to protect our forests, Farmers can use conservation grazing to improve the health of a forested area and Forest or Park Rangers facilitate visitors to such areas

Improve Well Being

Evidence suggests there are beneficial therapeutic effects to spending time in woodlands; such as reducing hypertension, alleviating stress and giving a boost to those with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and/or depression

Forestry schools and Wellbeing Practitioners recognise the benefits of time spent in forest locations and there are some sports that take place here – benefitting both mind and body

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It is therefore essential that we work together to improve, protect and defend the Celtic Rainforests for the United Nations International Day of Forests and beyond

It’s not just a matter of what they do for you – it’s also about what you can do for them

#IntlForestDay #InternationalForestDay #dayofforests2023