Forests matter and, today especially, it’s not just OuTrop who are shouting that point! The importance of forests for all of us is recognised at the very highest level, with 21st March having been declared International Day of Forests by the United Nations.
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| Sabangau Peat-Swamp Forest, Indonesian Borneo. Photo by Andrew Walmsley/OuTrop |
This special designation is made in light of the fact that huge numbers of people depend on forests for their livelihood, that forests play a key role in adapting to and mitigating climate change, and that they are the most biologically-diverse land ecosystems, supporting over 80% of terrestrial animal and plant species!
Despite this, around 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually, requiring urgent action to prevent further loss of the benefits they provide.
The theme for this year’s International Day of Forests is “Forests and Climate Change”, highlighting forest-based solutions to address climate change mitigation and adaptation, and more broadly forests and sustainable development.
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| Sabangau Peat-Swamp Forest, Indonesian Borneo. Photo by Andrew Walmsley/OuTrop |
That theme couldn’t be more relevant to OuTrop, and here’s why…..
- Tropical peat-swamp forests store huge amounts of carbon in their peat, equivalent to 3.5% of the global vegetation and soil carbon pool.
- As a result, peat fires and degradation in South-east Asia emit massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, averaging the equivalent of around 4% of total global fossil fuel emissions.
- Our mission to help protect the peat-swamp forests of Sabangau and other areas in Borneo has huge relevance in the fight to prevent global climate change.
- Like people everywhere, local people in Borneo need economic opportunities and development to ensure acceptable standards of living. This means that local communities are always likely to view conservation in a more positive light when it is seen as an economic opportunity – or a win-win – rather than a cost. It is for this reason that OuTrop have been supporting CIMTROP and the Community Patrol Team to pilot a sustainable livelihood project centred around traditional fish ponds, or ‘bejes’.
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| Building ‘bejes’ or fish ponds on the edge of the Sabangau Forest. Photo by Matt Adam Williams/OuTrop |
And that’s not to mention the globally important populations of apes and other threatened species that forests like Sabangau support, their role in preventing floods and fire, their cultural value… the list goes on!
Of course, for us here at OuTrop, every day is a forest day, but we hope that this International Day of Forests helps further raise awareness and support for forest conservation around the globe. So, please do share the message and show your support!
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| Orangutans depend on forests, like the Sabangau Forest. Photo by Andrew Walmsley/OuTrop. |
