International Day of Forests 2024
“Forest and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World” is the theme for this year’s celebration. Since 2012, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 21st March as “International Day of Forests. Annually, the intentions of the day are to raise awareness and celebrate the importance of all types of forests.
This year is no exception, scientists are pursuing ways of improving our world by looping science/technology with trees and now harmful plastics can be replaced with biodegradable alternatives derived from wood. Additionally, rare earth metals and graphite can be substituted in the manufacture of batteries.
Innovation is revealing and allowing us to use trees in many new ways. The materials obtained from the forests around the world is the way forward in reaching the goals of sustainable development.
There are many ways of protecting our forests, some of which include planting trees, being an advocate for sustainable use and other activities involving trees and forests.
To commemorate this special occasion, the Forestry Unit within the Ministry of Agriculture held a hike and tree planting exercise in the Body Pond area with some members of the Royalton Antigua Resort management.