2024-03-23 10:34:24
“Forests and innovation: new solutions for a better world” is the theme of this year’s World Day of Forests, celebrated tomorrow, March 21, with the aim of highlighting the importance of forests in the fight against climate change and warning of the risk of their degradation.
Sustainable management of forests and the use of their resources is key to combating the climate crisis and the well-being of present and future generations. Forests play a critical role in alleviating poverty and achieving most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, despite their invaluable ecological, economic, social and health benefits, forests are at risk from fires, pests, droughts and deforestation.
The choice of this year’s theme is a call to action to harness technological innovations for forests to address the growing threat of deforestation, habitat degradation and climate change.
“Forest products help create alternatives to sustainable materials such as steel, plastics and synthetic fibers. Harmful plastics can now be replaced with biodegradable wood alternatives to replace graphite and rare earth metals in batteries and create new sustainable fibers to reshape the fashion industry.
Drone innovations are changing the way we manage and protect our forests by helping to detect and fight forest fires as well as preserve biodiversity and fragile ecosystems”, states a press release of the Forestry Policy Implementation Review of Epirus – Western Macedonia, which, as part of the celebration, organizes events in all the Forest Directorates of its area of responsibility. Events, concerning tree plantings, informative speeches and student discussions in primary and secondary schools, with the aim of highlighting the role and value of the forest in human well-being and health, as well as awakening everyone to the need to protect forests and the natural environment in general..
The events in Epirus are as follows:
Forest Service of Ioannina
– At the 1st Primary School of Ioannina (Kaplanio) there will be a distribution of saplings for tree planting in Alsos.
– At the 3rd Primary School (Maroutsio), at the 7th Primary School of Ioannina (Pavlideios School), at the 27th Primary School of Kiafa, at the 3rd Kindergarten of Kiafa, at the Special Kindergarten and at the Special Primary School for Physically Handicapped Children of Ioannina, at the Special Vocational High School and High School of Ioannina , at the “Mystiko Kleidi” Kindergarten and Kindergarten, at the Elementary School and at the Eleousa High School of the Municipality of Zitsa, saplings will be distributed for tree planting in the courtyards of the schools.
– The 9th High School of Ioannina will plant ornamental forest bushes in the aesthetic forest of Ioannina.
– The Avgo Primary School of Ioannina will plant ornamental forest bushes on the Avgo Hill near the historical monument “Tomb of the 333 Bizanomachs” and in the courtyard of the school.
Also, material will be distributed in all schools and informative talks will be given on the importance of forests.
Directorate of Preveza Forests
In Primary Schools and Kindergartens of the Municipality of Preveza, informative speeches will be held on the importance of forests by the staff of the Preveza Forestry Directorate.
Arta Forests Directorate
There will be a distribution of seedlings for tree planting in Primary schools and Gymnasiums of the Municipality of Artaia. There will also be material distribution and informative talks on the importance of forests.