CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY • March 21, 2024
March 21 is International Day of Forests. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said, “Forests harbor some 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity; they support more than a billion people with food, shelter, income, and energy. And they provide three quarters of the world’s accessible freshwater. Containing over half of the global carbon stock in soils and vegetation, forests also support us in combating climate change. But forests continue to face major threats. We need innovation and new solutions to provide early warning of forest fires and other threats, to combat organized crime, and to promote sustainable forest management and fair supply chains in support of a sustainable bioeconomy.”