HomeMy WebLinkAboutInternational Day of Forests - March 21, 2022IC is.,o u Avii Ain I
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WERE-4S forests are like giant, green sponges all over the globe, through whichourEarthbreathes. Trees and plants take in carbon dioxide and give us oxygen, cleaningourair, and just a simple walk in the woods can calm and invigorate our senses; and
WERE4S the forests are so crucial to the future of our planet that, in 2012, the
United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as International Day of Forests,with the 2022 theme "Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption", to raiseawarenessandeducatethepubliconissuesofconcern, to mobilize political will andresourcestoaddressglobalproblems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements ofhumanity; and
Wi'WE??£45 the forest sector generates jobs for at least 33 million people worldwide,
and forest products are used by billions. It is estimated that more than half the world'seconomicproduction [GDP] depends on ecosystem services, including those provided byforests; and
14 WEREy4S forests are essential for planetary health and human well-being. Forests
cover nearly one-third of the Earth's surface and provide people with goods such as timber,
fuel, food, and fodder, help combat climate change, protect biodiversity, soils, rivers and
reservoirs, and serve as areas where people can get close to nature; and
W/WERE,4S Forests also play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and in the
achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, despite all these priceless
ecological, economic, social, and health benefits, global deforestation continues at an
alarming rate; and
WiWERE'4S during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021, it
became clear that forest restoration is essential to solving the climate crisis; and
WIWEREAS it is up to us to implement sustainable forest management. Here on
Hawaii Island, Terra formation is working to solve climate change by global native forest
restoration, scaling natural carbon capture by solving the biggest bottlenecks to forest
restoration, and accelerating global progress toward climate change solutions.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MITCHELL D. ROTH, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, do hereby proclaimApril2022, as
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS
in the County of Hawai'i and encourage our citizens to undertake local, national, and
international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting
campaigns.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused The Seal of the
County of Hawwaaii`ii to be affixed. Done this 21'` day of March 2022 in Hilo, Hawaii.
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a.,- MITCHELL D. ROTH
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