Forests are part of the planet’s balance.
The Earth and your life would not be the same without forests. They perform functions that only they can fulfil. Human activities are causing species extinction and ecosystem destruction at an unprecedented rate.
It is urgent to reverse this situation and reduce the causes driving it, including climate change.
They are important carbon sinks…
Forests are valuable for their role in absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change.
… they host a large portion of terrestrial biodiversity…
Biodiversity encompasses all forms of life, including all species, their variations, and their interactions. Each species plays a unique role in the ecosystem, and all are necessary for its proper functioning. For example, plants introduce matter and energy into the ecosystem, and all animals, fungi, and microorganisms depend on them.
… and they provide us with essential goods and services.
The so-called ecosystem services, besides being fundamental to the balance of life on Earth, play an essential role in our well-being.
- Supporting services, such as air and water purification, soil formation, carbon sequestration, photosynthesis, pollination, and nutrient cycling, which underpin growth and productivity.
- Regulating services for climate, water cycles (reducing the risk of natural disasters), and population control of animals, insects, and other organisms (which can lead to pests and diseases).
- Provisioning services that supply water, energy, and raw materials (food, medicines, timber…).
- Cultural services that offer beauty, inspiration, and recreational values that contribute to our spiritual well-being.
Biodiversity is the web of life of which we are a part and upon which we depend.
Examples of how climate change affects forests:
- Insect attacks and drought
- Invasive exotic species (IES)
- Emergence of new diseases arriving from warmer areas
Some human actions are driving species extinction and ecosystem destruction at an unprecedented rate. It is urgent to reverse this situation and reduce the causes driving it.
