Purpose: The International Day of Forests observed on 21 March aims to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. Some 2.4 billion people use wood-based energy for cooking. Forests help mitigate climate change and improve soil, air and water quality. If sustainably managed, forests are also a source of renewable raw materials, making a crucial contribution to building circular economies. In light of these and many other reasons to respect and safeguard our forests, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 21st as International Day of Forests in 2012. Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.

FORUM: ‘‘Forests and foods: the role of forests in food systems." International Day of Forests 2025. The theme for the day will focus on the crucial roles of forests in food security, nutrition and livelihoods. In addition to providing food, fuel, income and employment, forests support soil fertility, protect water resources, and offer habitats for biodiversity, including vital pollinators. They are essential for the survival of forest-dependent communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples, and contribute to climate change mitigation by storing carbon. FAO is also proudly celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2025 by showcasing actions and best practices that promote a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food future. Learn more about FAO's work in forestry and make sure to catch FAO's key messages to mark the day. Follow the conversations #IntlForestDay, #SustainingForests, #21March, #Forestsandfood.

EVENTS: AT UNHQ in New York; On March 21st; The DESA's UN Forum on Forests Secretariat will organize a special event to celebrate the International Day of forests 2025. The event will bring together policymakers, researchers, civil society, Indigenous leaders, youth, and major international organizations to discuss innovative and traditional ways forests contribute to food security and sustainable agriculture. The programme includes high-level opening remarks, a panel discussion featuring global experts, and statements from member states and stakeholders. Through this observance, we aim to raise awareness, promote sustainable forest management, and encourage action to protect the crucial relationship between forests and food systems. Register to participate!

AT FAO HQ; on Friday, March 21st, from 13.00 to 17.30 pm. CET; The International Day of Forests 2025 high-level event entitled ‘‘Forests and foods: the role of forests in food systems” will be held online and at the Sheikh Zayed Centre, FAO Headquarters, Rome. Join FAO the first corporate event contributing to FAO’s 80th Anniversary. The event will give a global overview of the links between forests and foods, followed by stories from the field. Translation will be provided in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish and Russian. Learn more about the high-level event. In Italy, at the Villa Doria Pamphili park, Rome. Join the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations at the Global Library of Trees and Flowers - FAO Park to celebrate the day. Several symposium, conferences and incentives will be held for this occasion.

At UN Geneva, on March 20th, From 12:30 - 14:00 pm., an in-person event entitled ‘‘Forests and foods: Let's go nuts!’’ Co-organized by the UNECE and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Türkiye to the UN Office at Geneva, this event will spotlight the critical role forests play in food security and nutrition. with an Expert talk to Learn about the connection between forests and healthy diets. A Tasting Session will present a sample a variety of nutritious forest-grown foods from different countries, showcasing the diverse flavors and health benefits of these natural products.

In Netherlands, on March 20th, From 14:30 - 17:30, an inspirational session entitled “Imagine not living in a city with trees, but in a forest with houses’’ with Artist Jos Bregman from Nature Access, together with the Urban Innovation research group, explores circular and innovative...

In Johannesburg, South Africa, from 18-21 March, the 2nd African Forum on Urban Forests entitled ”Green horizons: shaping the future resilience of African cities through urban forests” will be held at The Forum The Campus . It embodies a vision of sustainable development and growth for Africa’s urban areas and promotes a forward-looking perspective focused on an environmentally conscious and sustainable future. Building upon the success of the 1st African Forum on Urban Forests (2021) and the outcomes of the 2nd World Forum on Urban Forests (2023), this forum is envisioned as an opportunity to take stock and assess the progress of urban forestry initiatives across the continent, while charting the path for future advancements. The Forum is intended to be a technical meeting and seeks to convene key stakeholders, including representatives of local, provincial and national governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, research and academic institutions, community groups, and urban professionals across different sectors in in-depth conversations that stimulate innovative ideas, and inspire concrete actions to integrate urban forests and green spaces at the core of urban planning and development.  Interpretation  will be held in English, French and Portuguese. Explore the agenda programme and Register to participate!

In Japan, on March 11th; The Initiatives for forest conservation in developing countries using forest resources will be presented. The Japan International Forestry Promotion and Cooperation Center will hold a seminar on efforts to promote sustainable forest management in developing countries with the project called “Toward the Reforestation of a Green Earth”. The global environment is now in the greatest danger in the history of the earth. To save our earth, conservation and rehabilitation of forests on the whole planet is most urgently required. And action toward this is the common task of all people on the earth. Registration is required to participate.

In Japan, on February 7th; A seminar entitled ‘‘Developing country reforestation works - from planting to visualization.’’ was held by the Japan International Forestry Promotion and Cooperation Center; It showed that Not only is afforestation expected to absorb CO2 from the perspective of carbon neutrality, but corporate activities are increasingly being required to take biodiversity conservation and restoration into consideration. From the perspective of SDGs and ESG investment, attention is being paid to afforestation activities in developing countries with high potential, and in the future, there is expected to be a need to visualize their contribution. The JIFPRO is developing methods and examples to visualize the contribution of forestation in the Forestry Agency-subsidized project "Visualization Project for Contribution of Forest Creation Activities in Developing Countries." In this seminar, we will introduce the project's efforts for 2025, as well as invite CEO Kubota (Professor at the University of the Ryukyus) of Think Nature Co., Ltd., which is working on visualizing biodiversity using big data and AI, to introduce advanced examples. Get the flyer!

Explore the full List of IDF2025 events!

PUBLICATION: Forests, trees and wild species in agrifood systems - Optimizing benefits for biodiversity, climate and health.