Forests cover 31% of the world’s land. They are home to 80% of land-based biodiversity and more than 300 million people worldwide. Forests produce oxygen, replenish and filter groundwater, secure soil, and regulate air temperature. Forests offer a place to educate and inspire future generations to connect to nature and become stewards of the natural environment.

      1. Addressing Climate Change

        Forests capture carbon from the atmosphere and store carbon long-term in wood products. Forests are also an emerging source of renewable biofuels.

      2. Helping Recover Species at Risk

        By providing habitat, including safe and diverse places for animals to live, migrate, and breed, and landscapes where a variety of plants can grow, forests help species at risk.

      3. Delivering Additional Ecosystem Services

        Forests support soil nutrient cycling, purifying air and water, mitigating droughts and floods, and more.

      4. Providing Renewable Supply Chains

        Utilizing forest certification as a proof point for everyday products, such as sustainably sourced paper, carboard, and wood, puts forests at the heart of renewable supply chains. Renewable forest products are part of a circular economy that minimizes the depletion of non-renewable resources.

      5. Sustaining Communities and Economies

        Forests help deliver sustainable economic growth, by supporting diverse career opportunities, driving economic activity, and contributing to community vitality through employee engagement and support for local initiatives. 

      6. Providing a Place to Learn and Discover

        Forests help our communities understand our connection with the natural world and build the skills needed to grow.

      7. Contributing Social and Cultural Benefits

        By providing spaces for recreation and spiritual renewal and sustaining traditional use of resources, forests elevate our shared quality of life.

      8. Reducing Pollution

        Having more trees and green spaces in urban communities purifies the air, which lowers rates of asthma and respiratory illness.

      9. Lowering Temperature

        Shade from trees helps to lower the temperature of urban heat islands by transpiring moisture into the air.

      10. Fostering Community Health

        Plant and forest diversity contribute to the development of new medicines and sustaining traditional plant-based medicines.

Sustaining Forests Through Literacy

As we grapple with environmental challenges like climate change and demand for resources, our forests are more important than ever.

About Forest Literacy