March 21 is the International Day of Forests, a date established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of protecting these ecosystems vital to the balance of the planet.

This 2025, the theme is “Forests and Food“, a call to recognize the fundamental role that these ecosystems play in the food security, nutrition and livelihoods of millions of people around the world.

Forests cover approximately 30% of the earth’s surface, but their impact on biodiversity and human life is immense. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), they are home to 80% of animal and plant species and are a source of food for billions of people. Fruits, seeds, roots, leaves, mushrooms, honey, bushmeat, and even insects are part of the diet of communities that depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods.

In addition, forests and trees play a crucial role in soil fertility, water regulation, and pollinator maintenance, thus ensuring agricultural production globally. According to the UN, forested watersheds supply fresh water to more than 85% of the world’s major cities, making them indispensable allies for water and food security.

Forests also represent an economic engine for many communities. In some regions, they provide about 20 percent of rural household income, facilitating access to nutritious food and diversifying diets, according to FAO data.

In times of crisis, such as conflict or crop failures, forests become food safety nets, ensuring the survival of vulnerable populations. Wood remains a vital source of energy for cooking food in many developing countries, while non-timber forest products, such as medicinal herbs and wild fruits, are essential to the local economy and health.

Despite their importance, forests continue to be threatened by deforestation, overexploitation and forest fires. As stated by the UN, approximately 10 million hectares of forests are lost every year and another 70 million hectares are severely damaged due to fires. The degradation of these ecosystems not only endangers biodiversity, but also affects the communities that depend on them for their survival.

PROMOTION OF CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In this context, the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) promotes the conservation of forests and the sustainable management of their resources. Through the call for grants for the promotion of the forest bioeconomy within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, it is supporting 56 projects throughout the territory, with a total endowment of 77 million euros.

One of these projects is RECONECTA, coordinated by the Forestry Association of Soria (ASFOSO), with a budget of almost 2 million euros. This initiative seeks to boost and facilitate the sustainable management of private forests in a state of abandonment, identifying and motivating more than 5,000 forest owners in provinces such as Teruel, Cuenca and Soria. The objective is to promote the forest bioeconomy through timber and non-timber harvesting, the restoration of silvopastoral spaces, fire prevention and the creation of green employment in areas affected by depopulation.

Also noteworthy is the CAPRIF-CC project, coordinated by the Juana de Vega Foundation, with a grant of more than 1.1 million euros. This initiative works with rural communities in Galicia and Asturias to co-create multifunctional forest management models in areas of high natural value and burned areas. Through a network of five pilot areas (Living Labs), it promotes the restoration of landscapes resilient to climate change and forest fires, encourages green entrepreneurship and improves local biodiversity.

For its part, the City Council of Ramales de la Victoria leads the FLOATING FORESTS project, with a budget of more than 1.4 million euros. Its objective is to reverse the historical deforestation of the Eastern Cantabrian Mountain through the creation of the Monte Moro Municipal Reserve. Actions are promoted for the conservation of the Cantabrian oak forest, restoration of the Atlantic forest, development of interpretive ecotourism and recovery of the industrial forest heritage, favouring the local bioeconomy and the establishment of population in rural areas.

This International Day of Forests, it is essential to recognize their role for the future of food security and the health of the planet. It is time to commit to initiatives that protect and restore these essential ecosystems, guaranteeing their ability to continue nourishing humanity and the environment.