Theme 2011: Forest Biodiversity
Forest biodiversity refers to all forms of life found in forests, including trees, plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms, and their roles in nature. The complexity and rich diversity of life found in forests provides many vital services to human beings.
Nonetheless, humans are destroying forest biodiversity at an alarming rate. The conversion of forests to agricultural land, overgrazing, unsustainable management, introduction of invasive alien species, infrastructure development, mining and oil exploitation, man-made fires, pollution and climate change are all having negative impacts on forest biodiversity. This degradation makes forests more fragile and diminishes the services provided by forests to humans.
People have come to realize that forests offer much more than just timber. Forests provide recreational opportunities and contribute to our health and wellbeing. Not only do they regulate local temperatures and protect drinking water supplies, they also act as carbon sinks and mitigate climate change. Forests also play important economic, social, and cultural roles in the lives of many people, especially those of indigenous communities.
Traditional medicine is often based on natural products and plants found in forests. By destroying forests, we may be destroying an undiscovered cure for diseases.
Facts and Figures
- Tropical, temperate and boreal forests are home to the vast majority of the world’s terrestrial species
- Some 80% of people in developing countries rely on traditional medicines–up to half of these medicinal substances originate from plants found mainly in tropical forests
- Two thirds of all major cities in developing countries depend on surrounding forests for their supply of clean water
- Over the last 8000 years about 45% of the Earth’s original forests has disappeared, most of which was cleared during the past century
- Approximately 13 million hectares of the world’s forests are lost to deforestation each year, an area the size of Greece
- Up to 100 animal and plant species per day are believed to disappear together with these tropical forest habitats
- Emissions resulting from deforestation may contribute approximately 20% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions
- Natural forests are among the best stores of carbon
- Over three quarters of the world’s accessible fresh water comes from forested watersheds
- More than six million hectares of primary tropical forests, which are especially rich in biodiversity, are lost each year.