Showing posts with label 21 March. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 21 March. Show all posts

Friday, 18 March 2016

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016 , 21 March.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March.
Международный день борьбы за ликвидацию расовой дискриминации, 21 марта.
 اليوم الدولي للقضاء على التمييز العنصري ,21 مارس.


2016 Theme: Challenges and Achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – 15 years after.
El tema del 2016 es: «Desafíos y logros de la Declaración y Programa de Acción de Durban - 15 años después»
Thème 2016 : « 15 ans après la Déclaration et le programme d'action de Durban : progrès et défis »
2016年主题：《德班宣言和行动纲领》15年：成就与挑战
Тема Дня 2016 года «Дурбанская декларация и Программа действий: вызовы и достижения 15 лет спустя».
 موضوع عام 2016: تحديات إعلان وبرنامج عمل ديربان وإنجازاته بعد مرور 15 سنة



Racism and Racial Discrimination - UNRIC Info Point & Library




Message of the United Nations Secretary-General Message for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016.

Coming soon.




In 1979, the General Assembly adopted a Programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (A/RES/34/24).

On this occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on 21 March, would be organized annually in all States.


FORUM : 21 March is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

This year, the International Day is devoted to challenges and achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – 15 years after the landmark document was adopted at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in South Africa.

On Social Media

Ms. Gay McDougall, Member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, will take questions from the public on Reddit, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. New York time on 21 March 2016



EVENTS : 
 
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016.


In New York : The President of the General Assembly is convening a meeting to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 18 March 2016 at United Nations Headquarters at 11:00 a.m. The keynote speech will be given by Mr. Ahmed Reid, Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. The event will be webcast live on UN Web TV.

 Resources :

 Read the United Nations General Assembly resolution (A/RES/2142 (XXI))


   How to deal with racist people?


how to deal with racist people?

Can there ever be a ‘correct’ response for dealing with racist people?
I’ve collected answers from real people, dos and don’ts they would recommend.
Use this infographic to start a discussion:
  • Introduce the term ‘racism’ and its flavours.
  • Discuss things you can and shouldn’t do when facing racist interaction.
  • Examine statistics about Australian people’s heritage and racist attitudes.


“Very little progress in tackling racism and xenophobia around the world” International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Monday 21 March 2016
 
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Friday, 20 March 2015

International Day of Nowruz , March 21st

International Day of Nowruz, 21 March.




The annual observance of Nowruz is a wonderful opportunity for people to join together to celebrate cultural diversity, dialogue and mutual respect. It is a moment of unity and solidarity, within and among societies, that is all the more important at times of strife and division.
This year’s Nowruz also takes on special meaning as the United Nations works to shape a new vision for sustainable future and adopt a meaningful universal climate agreement. These priorities for 2015 are in line with the spirit of Nowruz, which promotes harmony with nature and all peoples to foster cooperation for lasting peace.
This ancient New Year tradition coincides with the arrival of spring, giving rise to a rich array of customs, rituals and festivities, from communities in Western, Central and Southern Asia, to the Caucasus, Balkans and other regions. Nowruz is inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, under UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
I wish joyous and peaceful celebrations to all. May the spirit of Nowruz live on throughout the year.

Ban Ki-moon




Nowruz marks the New Year and the arrival of spring across many countries of Western, Central and Southern Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans and other regions. This age-old celebration of diversity, dialogue and solidarity brings together peoples of many different cultures, religions and languages, joining families and communities together.

Celebrated across so many borders, Nowruz has given rise to a rich horizon of customs, rituals and festivities that are often associated with nature and fertility. The songs, dances, festive meals and other social practices that form an integral part of Nowruz provide vivid demonstration of the creative diversity that UNESCO seeks to promote in all of its work. In 2009, Nowruz was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity -- one year later, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution recognizing 21 March as the International Day of Nowruz.

The fundamental values of Nowruz are those of peace and solidarity, reconciliation and good-neighbourliness. This is a celebration of diversity on the basis of tolerance and harmony with nature, promoted and carried from generation to generation, within and between communities. These messages are especially important today, in this turning point year for the Millennium Development Goals and as States shape a new global sustainable development agenda. The intangible cultural heritage of humanity is a wellspring of confidence and belonging – it is a source of strength and creativity for the benefit of all.

In these uncertain and turbulent times, let us all embrace the values of Nowruz and carry forward its message of peace, harmony, tolerance and reconciliation.
Irina Bokova







Events :
On the occasion of the International Day of Nowruz 2015

Celebration | Nowruz

When, local time:  Wednesday, 18 March 2015 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where:  France, Paris
Type of Event: Concert
Contact: dl.iran@unesco-delegations.org


A musical evening featuring Iranian music and traditional songs, inspired by Persian poems of Hafez and Mowlana, composed by Sohrab Pournazeri, performed by the group Syavosh, the famous classical singer Homayoun Shajarian and the artists Aeen Meshkatian, Azad Mirzapour, Atena Mostaan Eshtiaghi, Hossein Rezaeenia, Mahyar Toreihi.
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World Poetry Day 2015, March 21st.







The poet John Burnside wrote:
“If what we insist on calling
fate seems inexplicable or cruel
it’s only because
we lack the imagination
to wish for what it brings,
to brighten it
with something more inventive
than dismay.”
This is the power of poetry. It is the power of imagination to brighten reality, to inspire our thoughts with something more inventive than dismay.
Poetry is the universal human song, expressing the aspiration of every woman and man to apprehend the world and share this understanding with others, through the arrangement of words in rhythm and meter. There may be nothing more delicate than a poem and, yet, it expresses all of the power of the human mind, and so there is nothing more resilient.
Poetry is as old as humanity itself, and as diverse -- embodied in traditions, oral and written, that are as varied as are the human face, each capturing the depth of emotions, thought and aspiration that guide every woman and men.
Poetry is intimate expression that opens doors to others, enriching the dialogue that catalyses all human progress, weaving cultures together and reminding all people of the destiny they hold in common. In this way, poetry is a fundamental expression of peace. In the words of Cherif Khaznadar, laureate of the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture, “Knowledge of the other is the gateway to dialogue, and dialogue can only be established in difference and respect for difference.” Poetry is the ultimate expression of difference in dialogue, in the spirit of unity.
Every poem is unique but each reflects the universal in human experience, the aspiration for creativity that crosses all boundaries and borders, of time as well as space, in the constant affirmation of humanity as a single family.
This is the spirit of World Poetry Day, and this guides all of UNESCO’s work to strengthen humanity as a single community – by safeguarding poetic documentary heritage under the Memory of the World Programme, as well as humanity’s intangible heritage. This is embodied in the recent inscription of Al-Zajal on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This traditional Lebanese poetry expression espouses tolerance and dialogue to resolve conflict and strengthen social cohesion.
In times of uncertainty and turbulence, perhaps never before have we needed the power of poetry to bring women and men together, to craft new forms of dialogue, to nurture the creativity all societies need today.
This is UNESCO’s message on World Poetry Day 2015.

Irina Bokova



 FORUM : 21 march is World Poetry Day


Classical Poets (Homer, Ovid, Lucan, Horace)

POETS CELEBRATED IN 2015


Akaki Tsereteli (Georgia)
100th anniversary of the death of Akaki Tsereteli, poet and writer (1840-1915)
Andrés Bello López (Venezuela)
150th anniversary of the death of Andrés Bello Lopez, humanist (1781-1865)
Nguyen Du (Viet Nam)
250th anniversary of the birth of Nguyen Du, poet (1765-1820)


Poetry reaffirms our common humanity by revealing to us that individuals, everywhere in the world, share the same questions and feelings. Poetry is the mainstay of oral tradition and, over centuries, can communicate the innermost values of diverse cultures.

In celebrating World Poetry Day, March 21, UNESCO recognizes the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.

A decision to proclaim 21 March as World Poetry Day was adopted during UNESCO’s 30th session held in Paris in 1999.One of the main objectives of the Day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.

The observance of World Poetry Day is also meant to encourage a return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, to promote the teaching of poetry, to restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and to support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media, so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered an outdated form of art, but one which enables society as a whole to regain and assert its identity.




 Documents :

UNESCO's World Poetry Day 2015 Celebrations  
 UNESCO’s message on World Poetry Day 2015.
UNESCO Official Proclamation of 21 March as World Poetry Day in 1999
Discover more than 100 articles on the world poetry, published over the last sixty years!



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International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2015, March 21


2015 Theme: "Learning from historical tragedies to combat racial discrimination today"
Тема Дня 2015 года «Извлекать уроки из прошлых трагедий, чтобы бороться с расизмом сегодня»
El tema del 2015 es: «Aprender de las tragedias históricas para combatir la discriminación racial del presente»
Thème 2015 : « Apprendre des tragédies historiques pour mieux lutter contre la discrimination raciale »
2015年主题:从历史悲剧中吸取教训，抗击今日种族歧视
موضوع عام 2015:
التعلم من المآسي التاريخية لمكافحة التمييز العنصري اليوم




United Nations Secretary-General Message for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2015.



“Learning from past tragedies to combat racism today”

Every day, people of all ages endure hatred, injustice and humiliation because of their skin colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, or other supposedly racial characteristics.  Such discrimination has underpinned oppression, poverty, slavery, genocide and war. 
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a world of justice and equality where xenophobia and bigotry do not exist.  We must learn the lessons of history and acknowledge the profound damage caused by racial discrimination.  That means carefully preserving the memory of historical wrongs so we may use our knowledge to eradicate prejudice and teach tolerance, non-discrimination and respect for diversity everywhere and for all. 
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent.  In the past fifty years, there has been progress in the fight against racism and racial discrimination.  We have seen the end of colonialism, the dismantling of apartheid and the rise of a global movement for equality.  Yet, as history and current events attest, racial discrimination still presents a clear danger to people and communities in all regions. 
Lasting peace can only be built on the premise that all people have equal rights and dignity – regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, social or other status.  To that end, I urge all nations to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to promote historical accuracy and put in place robust policies and laws that will end all forms of discrimination as enshrined in the Convention.

Ban Ki-moon






 FORUM : 21 March is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

This Year 2015, and as requested by the General Assembly, Presidents of the General Assembly and of the Human Rights Council will convene meetings both in New York and Geneva during the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination through a debate on the state of racial discrimination worldwide.
This year's theme “Learning from historical tragedies to combat racial discrimination today” aims to explore the root causes of racism and racial discrimination and will stress the essential need to learn the lessons history has provided in order to combat racism and racial discrimination today.

Events

In Geneva, a panel event and a movie screening will take place at the Palais des Nations on 20 March 2015.
Panellists will speak at the Human Rights Council about the importance of preserving the historical memory of past human rights tragedies, including slavery, the slave trade, transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, colonialism and genocide which have led to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. They will explore the need of elaborating educational and awareness raising materials with a view to contribute to eradicating contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination.
For the screening of the movie on racism, young people from secondary schools are invited to participate in the event and to hold an exchange of views about situations of day to day racism.
In New York, the same day, a panel event will take place at the United Nations Headquarters, with the participation of academics, including historians and experts from the civil society, active in the field of racism and racial discrimination.
  
The global fight against racism
On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, UN experts say the historical memory of past atrocity crimes must be preserved to strengthen the global fight against racism.

For further information, please contact registry@ohchr.org.


 Learning from historical tragedies is key to strengthen the global fight against racism International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Saturday 21 March 2015

GENEVA (20 March 2015) – Speaking ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, three United Nations experts on racism have called on Governments around the world to preserve the historical memory of past atrocity crimes to make more effective the global fight against racism.

The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, Mutuma Ruteere; the  Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, Mireille Fanon Mendes-France; and the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, José Francisco Cali Tzay, said that  breaking the silence on past human rights tragedies can only be achieved through political will and education.

“This year the International Day for the elimination of racial discrimination has a particular resonance as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and commence the International Decade for People of African descent (2015-2024).

Striving for a world free of racism and racial discrimination while remembering historical tragedies and inhumane actions, related to racial or ethnic hierarchizing and discrimination, which have affected global history and caused untold suffering are inseparable parts of the fight against racism that all actors must undertake. We continue to be confronted with evidence that we are still some way from realizing the goal of universal non-discrimination, inter-ethnic harmony and unbiased justice that so many have worked to achieve.

The complex linkages between past and contemporary forms of racism must indeed be considered to prevent racial discrimination, xenophobia, afrophobia and related intolerance and banish racism in our societies. In this respect, political will and education is key in breaking the silence on past human rights tragedies.

Often history books are silent about past atrocities committed in the name of race and ethnicity, falsify or distort historic facts, spread racial prejudice, and elude the history, cultures, traditions and positive contributions of those exposed to racism and discrimination, including people of African descent, minorities, migrants, indigenous peoples and other groups.

As we commemorate this important milestone for the ICERD, we can look back and see some great successes in the fight against racism; the most significant has been the end of Apartheid in South Africa.   But racism and discrimination is present today in our modern societies across the globe and in many forms.  Only by recognising and learning from history can we make past successes a contemporary reality.

We call upon States, and all relevant actors to adopt and implement measures to preserve historical memory of past atrocity crimes, to promote an accurate reflection of historical facts relating to past atrocities in text books and other educational material; to implement awareness-raising initiatives and ensure trainings for teachers on racial discrimination; prescribe unbiased schoolbooks that include the positive contribution of the victims of racial discrimination, while promoting more tolerance and respect for diversity.

We urge States to fully implement the ICERD as well as the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and the Programme of Activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development which constitute key instruments in the global fight against racism including past atrocities.”


Documents
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World Down Syndrome Day 2015, March 21st.







This year’s World Down Syndrome Day falls as the international community is striving to create a universal, transformative agenda for sustainable development. The links between disability, human rights and development span a wide spectrum of development issues relating to economic, social and environmental factors.  Every year on this observance, we reaffirm that persons with Down syndrome are entitled to the full enjoyment of all human rights.  This year, we must make every effort to ensure that the new sustainable development goals address equality and help build a life of dignity for all, including people with Down syndrome and other persons with disabilities.
Persons with Down syndrome face stigmatization, abuse and lack of support.  Too often, their challenges begin early in life when they are excluded from quality education systems.  Adequate access to health care, early intervention programmes and inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of individuals with Down syndrome. 
The role of families is central to supporting persons with Down syndrome by promoting their equal status in society and empowering them to be their own advocates.  At the same time, we must recognize our collective responsibility to create conditions for all persons with disabilities to make valuable contributions to our shared future.  We must promote inclusive policies and raise awareness about social justice for people with Down syndrome, and do everything possible to enable them to live where they want and with whom, to form their own families, to administer their own assets and to pursue their own happiness.
I applaud all those who champion the rights and lives of persons with disabilities, and I urge others to support them.  Let us use this World Down Syndrome Day to advocate for a more socially just and inclusive world.

Ban Ki-moon

 
How people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.
Our focus is ‘My Opportunities, My Choices’ – Enjoying Full and Equal Rights and the Role of Families in 2015



‘My Opportunities, My Choices’ (Information Leaflet) - Down Syndrome International

My Opportunities, My Choices,– Enjoying Full and Equal Rights and the Role of Families People with Down syndrome, on an equal basis with other people, must be able to enjoy full and equal rights,both as children and adults with ‘opportunities’ and‘choices’.

People with Down syndrome face many challenges as children and adults which can include:

° being abandoned, subjected to abuse and segregated from their communities;
° being discriminated against and treated unequally in education s ystems;
°  being discriminated against and having health conditions misdiagnosed by health systems;
°limited opportunities to live independently, work and be fullyincluded in the community;
° a lack of control over the right to marry and have relationships and families;
°limited opportunities to vote, participate in public advocacy or be elected to public office.

These challenges prevent many people with Down syndrome from enjoying their basic human rights. Those directly or indirectly responsible for this may be families, education, health and social professionals, authorities or the general public and the primary reason for this is a failure to understand that people with Down syndrome are people first, who mayrequireadditional support, butshould be recognised by society on an equal basis with others, without discrimination on the basis of disability.

Preamble (X) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) confirms that “persons with disabilities and their family members should receive the necessary protection and
assistance to enable families to contribute towards the full and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities.”

In order for people with Down syndrome to enjoy full and equal rights, their families, who have a deep personal interest in their well-being, must be informed and empowered to promote the equal status of their family members in society, so that they can provide support, advocate foropportunities and choices in all aspects of life and crucially so that they can empower people with Down syndrome to express their own views freely on all matters affecting them and make their own decisions, as well as advocate for themselves. Society can assist families to support children wi th Down syndrome to be protected from harm, to be heard, to have access to education and healthcare and to be fully included in their communities, with opportunities to participate, on an equal basis with others.

Adults with Down syndrome, on an equal basis with others, must have choices, be able to make decisions and have control in their lives. Society can assist families to ensure that people with Down syndrome have access to support they may require in exercising their legal capacity, to empower them to lead independent lives and be accepted and included as valued, equal and participating members of their communities.

On 21 March 2015, the 10th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day and in the‘21’st anniversary year of the‘International Year of the Family, Down Syndrome International will focus on the role of families and the positive contribution that they can make towards the enjoyment of full and equal rights for people with Down syndrome.

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Wednesday, 19 March 2014

World Poetry Day 2014, 21 March

UNESCO Director-General's Message on World Poety Day 2014.

Every year, UNESCO celebrates those who give life to poetry as one of the highest forms of linguistic and cultural expression. Poetry is a song of freedom, enabling us to affirm our identity through creation. Poetry is also the song of our deepest feelings; in the words of the Brazilian poet and diplomat João Cabral de Melo Neto, “even unintentionally, every word that comes from emotion is poetry”. Through its words and its rhythm, poetry gives shape to our dreams of peace, justice and dignity, and gives us the strength and desire to mobilize to make them real.
All peoples throughout history have developed and practiced forms of poetry, so as to pass on orally their knowledge, history and myths – the Vedas and Ramayana in India, the Hebrew Bible, the Iliad and the Odyssey in Greece and many other philosophical and religious texts – to express feelings, to talk about daily life, to withstand trials or to entertain. Today, contemporary forms of poetry, from graffiti to slam, enable young people to become engaged in the practice and renew it by opening the door to a new space for creation. The forms evolve, but the poetic impulse remains intact. Shakespeare described poetry as the music that each man carries inside himself and, centuries later, the jazz musician Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and 2014 Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry at Harvard University, has recalled the affinities between poetry, literature and music in his lecture on “the wisdom of Miles Davis”.
As a deep expression of the human mind and as a universal art, poetry is a tool for dialogue and rapprochement. The dissemination of poetry helps to promote dialogue among cultures and understanding between peoples because it gives access to the authentic expression of a language. We see this in the inspiration of people celebrating intangible cultural heritage, mother tongues and cultural diversity, where poetry always plays a major role. That is why UNESCO encourages and calls for the support of authors and translators, the craftspeople of poetry, so that we might tap into the essence of beauty and inspiration for peace in their works.
Irina Bokova







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Thursday, 21 March 2013

International Day of Forests 2013


Key messages

Deforestation Fell Almost 20 Per Cent in Past Decade, United Nations Secretary-General Says in Message for International Day of Forests 2013



Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day of Forests, to be observed on 21 March:


Forests are vital for our well-being.  They cover nearly a third of the globe and provide an invaluable variety of social, economic and environmental benefits.  Three fourths of freshwater comes from forested catchment areas.  Forests stabilize slopes and prevent landslides; they protect coastal communities against tsunami and storm.  More than 3 billion people use wood for fuel; some 2 billion people depend on forests for sustenance and income, and 750 million live within them.


By proclaiming the International Day of Forests, the United Nations has created a new platform to raise awareness about the importance of all types of forest ecosystems to sustainable development.


Forests are often at the frontlines of competing demands.  Urbanization and the consumption needs of growing populations are linked to deforestation for large-scale agriculture and the extraction of valuable timber, oil and minerals.  Often the roads that provide infrastructure for these enterprises ease access for other forest users, who can further exacerbate the rate of forest and biodiversity loss.


Forests are also central to combating climate change.  They store more carbon than is in the atmosphere.  Deforestation and land-use changes account for 17 per cent of human-generated carbon dioxide emissions.  As weather patterns alter due to climate change, many forested areas are increasingly vulnerable.  This underlines the urgency of a global, inclusive, legally binding climate change agreement that will address greenhouse gas emissions and encourage the protection and sustainable management of forests.


Notwithstanding these immense challenges, there are encouraging signs.  The global rate of deforestation has decreased by almost 20 per cent in the past decade.  We need now to intensify efforts to protect forests, including by incorporating them into the post-2015 development agenda and the sustainable development goals.


On this first International Day of Forests, I urge Governments, businesses and all sectors of society to commit to reducing deforestation, preventing forest degradation, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable livelihoods for all forest-dependent peoples.


Ban Ki-Moon

During the International Year of Forests in 2011, the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) provided the following key messages for outreach initiatives.  They continue to hold true in 2013.

Forests and air

  • Over 40 percent of the world's oxygen is produced from the rainforests. 
  • Forests contribute to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity 
    in the air.

Forests and water

  • A tree releases 8-10 times more moisture into the atmosphere than the 
    equivalent area of the ocean.
  • Forests protect watersheds which supply fresh water to rivers.
  • Loss of forests could affect rainfall patterns globally, especially in food 
    growing regions in Latin America, the American mid-West and Central Asia. 
  • Deforestation leads to soil erosion and rivers being silted, which reduces 
    access to clean water.

Forests and biodiversity

  • Forests are home to over 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. 
  • In the Amazon basin alone, more than 1,300 species of forest plants are 
    used for medicinal or cultural purposes.
  • 12% of the world’s forests are designated for the conservation of biological 
    diversity (FRA 2010).
  • Deforestation of closed tropical rainforests could account for the loss of as 
    many as 100 species a day.

Forests build resilience to natural disasters 

  • Nearly 330 million hectares of forest are designated for soil and water 
    conservation, avalanche control, sand dune stabilization, desertification 
    control or coastal protection. (FRA 2010)
  • Mangrove forests act as a barrier against tsunamis, cyclones and 
    hurricanes.
  • ‘Green Wall for the Sahara’ The European Union and African Union are 
    implementing a project to build a ‘green wall’ of trees across the Sahara 
    to push back desertification and to secure agriculture and livelihoods in 
    the sahelo-saharan zone.

Forests and land

  • Forests cover 31% of global land area
  • Forests and tree cover combat land degradation and desertification by stabilizing soils, reducing water and wind erosion and maintaining nutrient cycling in soils.

Forests are a key part of the climate change solution

  • The carbon in forests exceeds the amount of carbon currently in the atmosphere.  FRA 2010 estimates that the world’s forests store 289 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon in their biomass alone.
  • 17.4% of global greenhouse gas emission resulted from deforestation and forest degradation.
  • Forests offer the quickest, most cost-effective and largest means of curbing global emissions. It would save the world approximately $3.7 trillion between 2010 and 2200 if we halve greenhouse gas emissions (The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, 2006).
     

Healthy forests, healthy people

  • Tropical forests provide a vast array of medicinal plants used in healing and healthcare, worth an estimated $108 billion a year.  
  • More than a quarter of modern medicines originate from tropical forest plants.
  • Forests curb infectious diseases. Undisturbed tropical forests can have a moderating effect on insect- and animal-borne disease:
    • 40% of the world’s population lives in malaria infested regions. Heavily deforested areas can see a 300 fold increase in the risk of malaria infection compared to areas of intact forest.
    • 72% of emerging infectious diseases transmitted from animals to humans come from wildlife as opposed to domesticated animals. Deforested areas increase contact between wildlife and humans and affect pathogen transmission.

Forests are our livelihoods/wealth

  • 1.6 billion people around the world depend on forests for their livelihoods and daily subsistence needs.
  • The global gross value-added in the forestry sector is US$ 468 billion.
  • The global trade in primary wood products is US$ 235 billion.
  • Tropical forests provide pollination services to agriculture valued at US$12 billion per year. 
  • Given that more than 1 billion hectares of degraded areas throughout the world are suitable for forest landscape restoration, community-based forest management could be woven into other existing rural economic activities.
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Tuesday, 19 March 2013

United Nations Observances for March

Observances banner
March :





23 March,
World Meteorological Day [WMO].


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