International Forests Day 2026: For Healthy Economies & Communities

By – Dr. N. Munal Meitei
Forest is our mother. Forest is lung of the Earth. Forest is foundation for life. Forest is so crucial to the future and the planet. Forest is indispensable for healthy economies – for today and tomorrow. Forest is the greatest natural treasures that we must thrive and preserve for survival. Almost all aspects of life are related to forest. Healthy forests mean healthy, resilient and prosperous live.
International Day of Forests is celebrated on March 21 since 2012 to increase the public awareness on the values, significance and contribution of forests for existence of life on the Planet.”Forests and economies”/ is the theme for 2026 indicating the role of forests in driving economies beyond income and jobs; but to sustain families, communities and safeguarding the world. This day highlight the role of forests as engines of inclusive growth, well-being and to scale up policies, partnerships and investments that place forests at the heart of resilient and sustainable economies. The theme also explores how forests offer nature-based solutions and new economic opportunities as alternatives to carbon-intensive materials such as steel, concrete and plastics.
This day recognizes the essential role forests play in driving economic prosperity at local, national and international levels which extends far beyond the timber production, raw material trade but call to action to harness technological innovations for our forests to address the growing threat of deforestation, habitat degradation and climate variation.
Forests mean business and power economies. Forests provides food, fuel, income and employment, soil fertility, water resources and offer habitats for biodiversity, including vital pollinators. An estimated ¹ 4070 trillion – more than half of world GDP – depends on forests. Forest landscapes reduce the cost of producing clean water and storing carbon and moderating temperatures, help protect economies from climate-related disasters that can cost billions. The emerging bio-economy has sustainably managed forests at its heart.
The global demand for forest products is at an all-time high, with about 4 billion cum of wood requirement per year to a projected 5 billion cum by 2050. Up to 5.8 billion people worldwide use non-wood forest products to support their livelihood worth at least Rs. 870 billion annually and have enormous potential to grow. Fuelwood and charcoal provide essential energy for cooking to more than 2 billion people.
Healthy forests mean healthy communities. Forests are the economic backbone of many rural communities. Investing in forest conservation, restoration and sustainable use is really a payoff. Forests are not peripheral to economies -they underpin livelihoods, reduce poverty, strengthen food systems and deserve greater investment. More than 1.6 billion people depend on forests for subsistence, income or employment. In many low-income countries, forests contribute a higher share of GDP than in high-income economies, reflecting their importance for inclusive growth.
Forests are a lifeline for people living in poverty. Forests act as safety nets during economic shocks, conflicts and climate-related crises as the source of income, nutrition, energy and resilience. Non-cash forest benefits are estimated to be two to three times greater than reported cash contributions, yet remain largely invisible in national accounts.
Forests are pathways to gender equality. Women, with half of the forest workforce are central to forest livelihoods and food security. Yet women continue to face systematic barriers to land tenure, decision-making and access to finance, limiting both gender equality and the economic potential of forests.
Beyond jobs and livelihoods, forests function as economic infrastructure. They provide essential ecosystem services -including climate regulation, water security, soil protection and disaster risk reduction -that support productivity across agriculture, energy, industry and urban systems. These contributions help sustain economic growth while safeguarding natural capital for present and future.
As per ILO, forestry remains one of the world’s most hazardous sectors, where many workers face significant decent work deficits, particularly in relation to occupational safety and health. Climate change further intensifies these risks, making efforts to improve working conditions and practices more urgent than ever.
It is estimated that the world’s forests contain 662 billion tons of carbon, making up more than half of the world’s carbon stocks found in soils and vegetation. They are also a natural air conditioner, lowering air temperatures by 2 to 8 degrees.
Large forest stands dampen the sound waves of noise from roads, industries or urban centres. Time spent in forests like Shinrin-yoku has been shown to have a positive benefit on our health. Forests provide 85% of the freshwater for the world’s major cities. Forests are the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems in conserving life on the planet hosting 80% of the world’s Biodiversity.
Forests are complex living community of flora and fauna with a wide range of living organisms including verities of invertivores beneath the soil, playing a significant role in balancing the ecology. Data shows that forest loss worldwide is equivalent to an area of 11 football fields per minute which is amounting to 8 million trees per day.
Forests are the natural beauty on the landscape. Deforestation accounts for 16 to 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. A tree will continue to store carbon after it has been harvested and used for hundreds of years. That is why it is so important to use wood-based products.
Forests also influence nature’s capacity to cope with natural hazards, acting as barriers against heavy rains, flooding, strong winds, soil erosion and landslides. Sustainable forests management and their resources is the only way to deal with climate change and preserve the future. Innovative solutions, to ensure sustainable forest management is the need of the hour. Such policies outline, the forests will be the key part of green economy in the modern market, both for the public and private sectors in long-term solutions.
When we take away the forest, it is not just the trees that go, the entire ecosystem begins to fall apart, with dire consequences for all of us. The current economic system usually fails to recognize the value of the existing natural forest capital with its potential to provide continuing services and cash flows. Integrating forests into a green economy will require innovative policies and market solutions that are presently not recognized.
Forests are the nature’s greatest providers of essential functions for the preservation of the planet and life. Therefore, to protect forests, the green gold, let’s plant more trees – cut your living costs but not the trees. To save forest is to save the mother Earth andfor the future generation.
(The author is Environmentalist working as DFO/Chandel, email- [email protected])