Forests and Sustainable Cities - International Forests Day

21 March has been celebrated worldwide as International Forests Day since it was first declared in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests.

The theme for 2018 is Forests and Sustainable Cities.

National President of the Institute of Foresters of Australia, Mr Bob Gordon said, ‘Trends in urban planning and architecture are bringing more and more trees into our cities causing reduction in energy use by improving the local climate, storing atmospheric carbon, reducing fine particulates in the air and reducing noise pollution.

‘Members of the Institute of Foresters of Australia are intimately involved in advising local governments across the country on how to incorporate trees, particularly native species into urban environments.

‘We also understand that sustainably managed forests around urban areas can also benefit biodiversity and habitat while providing the fuel and fibre needed in today’s society.

‘It is often said that the 21^st Century is the century of wood with its benefits as a construction material now being realised worldwide and the Institute looks forward to a time when timber buildings dot our skyline with trees growing freely between them,’ said Bob

Later this year, the Institute of Foresters of Australia and the Australian Forest Growers are holding a combined conference in Canberra called: Forests for healthy cities, farms and people.

‘This builds on the UN theme for International Forests Day and from 2-5 September international and local experts will speak about the increasing importance of urban forests in our growing cities, the continuing importance of trees on farms, and the links between healthy tree-scapes and healthy people.

Happy International Forests Day – celebrate by hugging a tree,‘ said Bob.

More information about the conference is at https://forestry.org.au/ifa/about-the-conference