กิจกรรมเนื่องในวันป่าไม้สากล 2566 International Day of Forests 2023

International Day of Forests

Seminar on topic “Forest and Health.”

Concept:

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.

The theme for each International Day of Forests is chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. The theme for 2023 is “Forests and health.” which highlights the interconnectedness of nature and human well-being. Forests provide critical ecosystem services such as regulating the climate, purifying the air and water, and supporting biodiversity. In addition, forests also have significant health benefits for people, including physical, mental, and social benefits. Forests have long been recognized for their therapeutic and restorative effects, and there is growing evidence that spending time in nature can have positive impacts on our physical and mental health.

Base on the information from FAO publication on “Forests for human health and well-being Strengthening the forest–health–nutrition nexus” had shown that forests provide, directly or indirectly, important health benefits for all people. Health-enhancing qualities of forests are a result of multiple and mutually reinforcing benefits. For many communities in and near forests, in both developing and developed countries, biodiversity-rich forest ecosystems provide edible products that contribute to a healthy diet, such as fruits, leaves and mushrooms, as well as a vast number of medicinal plants. Forest environmental services include provision of freshwater resources, flood control, soil fertility, microclimate regulation and habitat for biodiversity. However, forests also contribute to human health in less direct ways, and for people less directly associated with forest habitat, including those living in urban areas. In overall role of forests for human health, the concept of health has to be understood widely to include not only treatment of diagnosed illnesses, but also ways to sustain health and wellbeing and prevent illness.

With this year highlight key massage including

Forests are a vital source of food and nutrition.

Nearly one billion people globally depend on harvesting wild food such as herbs, fruits, nuts, meat and insects for nutritious diets. In some remote tropical areas, the consumption of wild meat is estimated to cover between 60 – 80 percent of daily protein needs.

Forests are natural pharmacies.

Around 50 000 plant species – many of which grow in forests – have medicinal value. Local communities use forest-derived medicines for a wide array of ailments and many common pharmaceutical medicines are derived from forest plants, including cancer-treating drugs from the Madagascar periwinkle and malaria medication quinine from cinchona trees.

Healthy forests protect us from diseases.

Forests have traditionally served as a natural barrier to disease transmission between animals and humans, but as deforestation continues, the risk of diseases spilling over from animals to people is rising.  More than 30 percent of new diseases reported since 1960 are attributed to land-use change, including deforestation.

Forests boost our mental and physical health.

Spending time in forests increases positive emotions and decreases stress, blood pressure, depression, fatigue, anxiety and tension. Trees in cities also absorb pollutant gases from traffic and industry and filter fine particulates such as dust, dirt and smoke, which help shield urban populations from respiratory diseases.

Forests play a central role in combating the biggest health threat facing humanity: climate change.

Healthy forests help keep global warming in check: forests contain 662 billion tonnes of carbon, which is more than half the global carbon stock in soils and vegetation. Forests and trees also help buffer exposure to heat and extreme weather events caused by climate change, which pose a major global health challenge. For example, trees properly placed around buildings cool the air and can cut air conditioning needs by up to 30 percent, also saving energy.

Forests are under threat and need our help.

Ten million hectares – roughly the equivalent of 14 million football pitches – of forest were lost per year to deforestation between 2015 and 2020. Forest insects damage around 35 million hectares of forest annually. Fire affected approximately 98 million hectares of forest globally in 2015. Through forest-friendly policies and increased investment in forests and trees we can protect our planet and our health.

Royal Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand together with Royal Thai Embassy Stockholm, Eco – Innovation Foundation, Sweden, and Luleå University of technology, Sweden plan to organize seminar on this occasion. With the objectives:

• To raise awareness about the important role of forests in promoting human health and well-being.
• To highlight the interconnectedness of nature and human health.
• To discuss the challenges and opportunities for promoting forest-based health interventions.
• To share best practices, innovative approaches, and case studies

Format:

The seminar will bring together key person from Thailand and Sweden to share their inside ideas on how important and interconnectedness of forest and human health. The event will start with the keynote speech by Director General of Royal Forest Department on the importance of forests for human health and how Thailand try to keep its forest resources healthy for all people while also try to increase its forest areas in the same time.

Panel discussions: Panels will explore different aspects of the theme, including

• Forests are a vital source of food and nutrition
• Forests are natural pharmacies
• Healthy forests protect us from diseases.
• Forests boost our mental and physical health
• Forests play a central role in combating the biggest health threat facing humanity: climate change.
• Forests are under threat and need our help.

Expected outcomes:

Increased awareness and understanding of the important role of forests in promoting human health and well-being.

Identification of opportunities for promoting forest-based health interventions.

Exchange of best practices, innovative approaches, and case studies from different countries and stakeholders.