Preserving Our Forests, Protecting Our Future

"It was strangely like war. They attacked the forest as if it were an enemy to be pushed back from the beachheads, driven into the hills, broken into patches, and wiped out. Many operators thought they were not only making lumber but liberating the land from the trees..."
[On the first logging of the U.S. Olympic Peninsula, Washington]

- Murray Morgan

June 5 - 11 is Environment Week in Canada, and the week's theme is of interest to tree lovers and the general public alike. Preserving Our Forests, Protecting Our Future is a theme that dovetails nicely with the UN's 2011 International Year of Forests. It gives a much-needed nod to the importance or trees and forests in meeting many basic human needs.

This is a step in the right direction considering the gravity of the situation in Canada, and globally. If we don't protect our forests, the future will be bleak.

Celebrate The Trees

You can take part in a tree-planting campaign during Environment Week. GreenWave is a multi-year global campaign that enables children and youth to make a difference - one school, one tree, one step at a time. Plant a tree and register it at www.greenwave.cbd.int.

Or go for a hike on a local nature trail and revel in the beauty and serenity we are trying to preserve for future generations. Visit a favourite tree or forested area.

Write a letter or email to our elected officials to tell them trees and forest are important to you, and you would like to see real action toward protecting our ancient forests for future generations.

"There can be neither civilization nor happiness if forests crash down under the axe, if the climate is harsh and severe, if people are also harsh and severe. ... What a terrible future!" — Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

2011: U.N. International Year Of Forests

Tree and forest protection is going global this year. Tree loving people everywhere are celebrating as the United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests.

A calender of activities throughout the year, as well as a website, aim to provide "a global platform to celebrate people’s action to sustainably manage the world’s forests".  

People's action. That's us - you and me - and action is the key word.

The United Nations General Assembly took this step "to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests".

Deforestation is a global problem, including here in British Columbia's beautiful forest lands, public and private.

Deforestation occurs for many reasons: trees or derived charcoal are used as, or sold, for fuel or as lumber, while cleared land is used as pasture for livestock, plantations of commodities, and settlements. The removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in damage to habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity. It has adverse impacts on biosequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Deforested regions typically incur significant adverse soil erosion and frequently degrade into wasteland.

Disregard or ignorance of intrinsic value, lack of ascribed value, lax forest management and deficient environmental laws are some of the factors that allow deforestation to occur on a large scale. In many countries, deforestation, both naturally occurring and human induced, is an ongoing issue. Deforestation causes extinction, changes to climatic conditions, desertification, and displacement of populations as observed by current conditions and in the past through the fossil record. - from Wikipedia

We can stop the greed and destruction. We can stop corporations and governments that seemingly have no regard for the environment, our communities, future generations or species extinctions. There is no time like now to make a difference. Take advantage of 2011 and the International Year of Forests to take action.

How will you protect and celebrate our forests during the coming year? Let VIBT know and we will share your ideas in posts throughout the year. Let's show them what the power of the people looks like. The trees need us.

 About The Logo

The International Year of Forests 2011 logo is designed to convey the theme of “Forests for People” celebrating the central role of people in the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of our world’s forests.

The iconographic elements in the design depict some of the multiple values of forests and the need for a 360‐degree perspective: forests provide shelter to people and habitat to biodiversity; are a source of food, medicine and clean water; and play a vital role in maintaining a stable global climate and environment.

All of these elements taken together reinforce the message that forests are vital to the survival and well being of people everywhere, all 7 billion of us. From: http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/index.shtml