Sources of life and food, natural pharmacies and weapons against climate change. All this and much more the forestsecosystems vital to human. The United Nations (UN) warned these ecosystems are in danger and called for urgent action to protect them. Therefore, the campaignHealthy forests, healthy people‘ Introduced to mark the International Day of the Forest, this was celebrated on Tuesday.
“Forests are very important to our health and well-being. offer food, shelter, medicine and oxygen. If forests are healthy, it’s no exaggeration to make sure people are healthy too.”
They cover 31% of the Earth’s surface and are home to 80% of terrestrial species, but Its ever accelerating loss poses a serious threat to the future of humanity and the planet..
Forest ecosystems protect the health of the planet: regulates climate, precipitation and basins and provides the oxygen necessary for life.
Moreover, forests act as ‘carbon sinks’, helping to contain climate change. They absorb about 2,000 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, making it the biggest contributor to the environment. global warming.
Forest products are used daily around the world. They are obtained from masks to medicine. 80% of developing countries and 25% of developed countries are dependent on herbal medicines..
natural pharmacies
About 50,000 plant species growing in forests have medicinal value. and is used by both local communities and multinational pharmaceutical companies. Therefore, forests are natural pharmacies. Examples of this are cancer drugs derived from Madagascar vinca (carnation rose) or malaria drugs obtained from cinchona trees (Cinchona officinalis).
focus ‘a healthLaunched as part of the UN’s response to the covid-19 outbreak, it recognizes that the health of the wider environment, including humans, animals, plants and forests, is closely linked and interconnected.
Almost 1 billion people in the world depend on collecting wild food Largely from forests such as grasses, fruits, nuts, meat and insects to obtain nutritious diets. In some remote tropical regions, wild meat consumption provides 60% to 80% of the daily protein requirement.
A study conducted in 43,000 households in 27 African countries found that children exposed to forests had at least 25% greater dietary diversity than those not exposed to forests. Indigenous communities in most of Asia and Africa use around 120 wild foods per community, and in India alone, 50 million households supplement their diets with fruit harvested from forests and shrubs.
More: forests very important for sustainable developmentbecause they provide products and services, employment and income to approximately 2,500 million people, equivalent to one-third of the world’s population.
remedy for stress
The UN emphasizes Protecting the health of forests is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Regarding number 3, numerous scientific studies referring to well-being have shown that Spending time in the forest strengthens the immune system, increases positive emotions and reduces stress, blood pressure, depression, fatigue, anxiety and tension..
The presence of trees in cities helps to protect the population from respiratory diseases. by absorbing polluting gases and filtering out fine particles such as dust, dirt and smoke.
Forests also play a filtering role in the freshwater supply (SDG number 6). 75% of the world’s accessible fresh water comes from forest basins.
Regarding SDG 13 on action against climate change, forests buffer the effects of storms and floods.
Forest ecosystems have traditionally been natural barrier against disease transmission between animals and humans. However, as deforestation continues, the risk of zoonosis increases.
However forests are in danger. Fires, insect infestation, and deforestation have caused the loss of up to 150 million hectares of forest in some years of the last decade, the equivalent of three times the area of Spain.
Production of agricultural and animal raw materials such as palm oil, beef, soybeans, wood, pulp and paper causes about 70% of tropical deforestation..
The UN called for fighting against all these and protecting forests. “With positive policies towards the forestry sector and increased investment in forests and trees, we can protect our planet and our health.‘ he points.
UN publication on forests and health: https://www.fao.org/3/cb1468es/cb1468es.pdf
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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]