March 21 is the annual International Day of Forests as promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Dovetail Partners, Minneapolis, Minn., USA, says that on this day it is encouraging the celebration of forests and water quality, in accordance with the theme of the 2016 International Day of Forests--Celebrating Forests and Water, chosen to raise awareness of how forests are key to the planet's supply of freshwater, which is essential for life.

In 1971, at the request of the European Confederation, the FAO's member governments supported the observance of an annual World Forestry Day on March 21. That same year, in the U.S., a presidential proclamation declared World Forestry Day to be part of a week of activities and ceremonies aimed at celebrating the role of forests in everyone's life. Forty years later, 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests as a global celebration of people's action for sustainable forest management. March 21, 2013, was proclaimed the first annual International Day of Forests by the United Nations General Assembly. The goal is to continue raising awareness of the importance of all types of forests.  

Forests and water quality are intrinsically linked - forests act as natural water filters and are a key component of watershed management, Dovetail Partners notes. Forested watersheds and wetlands supply roughly 75% of the world's accessible fresh water for domestic, agricultural, industrial, and ecological needs and about one-third of the world's largest cities rely on forested watersheds for a significant percentage of their drinking water. When sustainably managed, forests contribute significantly to reducing soil erosion and risks associated with natural disasters, which can disrupt the source, supply, and quality of freshwater. As climate change influences the availability of the planet's freshwater resources, and global populations become increasingly urban, it is important to recognize the role that sustainably managed forests play in keeping water supplies accessible and ecologically healthy.

 

Additional information about the vital role forests play in relation to our water supply can be viewed in a 2016 International Day of Forests video. 

A list of global International Day of Forests events can be found online.