WHY WE NEED FORESTS

Forests play an important role in the livelihoods and welfare of a vast number of people who live in and off the forest.

1. By absorbing water and holding soil in place, forests reduce the risk of floods and mudslides that result from earthquakes and hurricanes.
2. Forests protect watersheds which supply fresh water to rivers - critical sources of drinking water.
3. The cloud forests La Tigra National Park in Honduras provide more than 40% of the water supply for the capital city,tegucigalpa and it's 850,000 people.
4. More than 1.6 billion people around the world depend to varying degrees on forests for their livelihoods,not just for food but also for fuel,for livestock grazing areas and for medicine.
5. More than 300 million people live in forests.
6. Forests are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity.
7. Forests cover 31% of total land area .
8. More than 40% of the world's oxygen is produced by rain forests.

1. Forests Provide

SHELTER

• Livelihoods
• Water
• Fuel and Food to 2 billion people directly and help regulate the climate for everyone on the planet.

• Forests play an important role in the livelihoods and welfare of a vast number of people who live in and off the forest.

• Marine ecosystems support more than 660 million jobs globally and are significant source of protein,particularly in developing countries.
• More than 1.6 billion people around the world depend to varying degrees on forests for their livelihoods,not just for food but also for fuel,for livestock grazing areas and for medicine.
• Forests protect watersheds which supply fresh water to rivers(critical sources of drinking water).
• The cloud forests of La Tigra National Park in Honduras provide more than 40% of the water supply for the capital city,Tegucigalpa and its 850,000 people.
• Forests are home to 300 million people.
• Forests are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity.
• The carbon in forests exceeds the amount of carbon currently in the atmosphere.
• More than a quarter of medicines  worth an estimated 108 billion us dollar a year,originate from tropical forest plants.

MANGROVE FORESTS

• Mangroves are the most productive ecosystems.
• Globally  there are 60 true mangrove sp. in 23 genera and families.
• In India there are 34 species of true mangroves. Bhitarkanika (Orissa)has 31 species. 
• Sunderbans  have 27 species
• Andaman and Nicobar islands have 24 species.
• India is home to more than 7% of the world's mangrove forests.
• Mangroves make up 8% of the Indian coastline.
• 80% of the mangrove forests are found on the eastern coast of India.
• Mangroves are also found in over two thirds of the salt water coastal areas of tropical and subtropical Africa,Asia,Australia and North America,and South America.
• Mangroves are nesting grounds for hundreds of species of birds,which build nests on the branches.
• Mangroves are very leafy and take in a lot of CO2 from atmosphere to make biomass.This reduces the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
• If mangroves are destroyed migratory birds will no longer have a safe haven to halt and rest.
• Mangrove deforestation is contributing to decline in fisheries,degradation of clean water supplies, increasing salinity of coastal soils,erosion, and land subsidence.
• Mangroves are known as soldiers of the Coasts.
• Indonesia has the largest area under mangroves with 30% of the global coverage,followed by Brazil,Australia and India.
• Red mangroves is the most common mangrove sp. in the world.
• Redmangroves (genus Rhizophora)are well adapted to salty swamps.
• Black mangroves,white mangroves,and buttonwood mangroves  grow around redmangrove clusters.
• Mangroves slow down the force of the sea waves and thus,protect coastline.
• Sunderban mangrove forests are home to more than 35 sp. of reptiles,270 sp. of birds,and 42 sp. of marine mammals.
• The salt water or estuarine crocodile (the largest of all living reptiles) is found in this mangrove forest.

VANAMAHOTSAVA

The first successful tree planting week was celebrated in Delhi in July 1947, with the participation of national leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad , Abdul Kalaam Azad, among many other important personalities. The celebration was renamed Vana Mahotsava , the grand festival of forests or trees.

BLUE CARBON FACTS

1. Mangrove ecosystems,tidal marshes and sea grasses sequester and store large quantities of blue carbon in the plants.
2. Global annual loss of these ecosystems is at the rate 1-2 % for tidal marshes;0.7 - 3% for mangroves; and 0.4 - 2.6% for sea grass.
3. The loss of all these systems  releases significant emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere and the ocean, contributing to climate change
4. Emissions from drained coastal wetlands result in 3 to 19 % of emissions from REDD
5. Coastal ecosystems provide other benefits for Climate change adaptation,local livelihoods,tourism and culture.Protection from storm and prevention of shoreline erosion,regulation of coastal water quality,habitat for important fish species and other vulnerable species.