International Day of Forests

Happy International Day of Forests! When one gets bogged down by the nitty gritty, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. Let’s step back together and observe our forests so that we can better protect this precious habitat.

In order to first appreciate forests, go hiking in one! Take a stroll through a forest preserve and notice how the plants, animals, and trees all work together to create a beautiful ecosystem. Taller trees provide shade and a home for birds, plants and fungi blanket the ground as food for animals, and as the trees grow, they pull carbon out of the air and return oxygen for us to breathe. While it’s likely many of our readers are picturing a temperate forest near their home (meaning they experience the four seasons), there are also boreal forests (cold with a short growing season) and tropical forests (warm with a high level of biodiversity).

Now imagine everything before you was GONE, and in its place, was a stack of toilet paper. It sounds crazy, but across all types of forests, this is often a reality.

Did you know that according to the UNEP, 80% of amphibians call forests home? Many creatures depend on forests for a source of shelter and food (including humans!), and when we deforest an area for its resources, it displaces all of the animals within. One of the animals deforestation threatens the most is the already critically endangered orangutan. According to a new study published in July in the journal Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 1 in 4 orangutans will lose their habitat by 2032 due to deforestation for palm oil, which is found in almost half of our packaged grocery products. So what can we do?

One way to help fight the demands for the resources found in forests is to switch to reusable items in place of disposable paper products. Another is to use recycled products or boycott items containing palm oil, or at least look for products that are Rainforest Alliance Certified. The Rainforest Alliance works to support and educate farmers in land management to avoid deforestation.

And as always, spread the word! We can all speak for the trees, and together reduce our waste and protect our forests!