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World Forestry Day

World Forestry Day on March 21 has been celebrated around the world for 30 years. Source: Timberbiz

The concept of having a World Forestry Day originated at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture in 1971.

Later that year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation gave support to the idea believing the event would contribute a great deal to public awareness of the importance of forests and agreed that it should be observed every year around the world.

March 21, the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, was chosen as the day to celebrate information about the three key facets of forestry ¬– protection, production and recreation.

Forestry, more than other branches of agriculture, needs to be brought before the public. But to make the practices and benefits of forestry comprehensible to the public is not simple.

This is partly because of the long time scale involved in forest management compared with so many other activities.

Every forester appreciates and understands the value of the forest as a source of raw material, as a provider of local employment and national income, as the great sponge which gathers and releases water, as the habitat for flora and fauna that otherwise would become extinct, and as the environment and atmosphere in which man feels uniquely at home with nature.

If foresters and forest services talk in plain language about that which they know best, people will listen, understand and be with them.

Forests are essential for life on Earth. They give us shade and shelter, refuge and refreshment, clean air and water. Today, with a growing global population and subsequent demand for forest products, the forests of the world are at risk from widespread deforestation and degradation.

A forest, which we usually think of in terms of trees, is in fact a complex, living community.

Australian pictorial tribute

As part of a special tribute, Australian Forests & Timber News would like to have your pictorial views on forestry. Snap away and then send your best photo.

All photos must be of high resolution (minimum 1MB). Send your photo to [email protected] and we will run a selection in our next publication.

The best photo submitted will be on the front page of that edition. Make sure you include your name and contact details.