The International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security
This year we have explored problems faced by the forested land in Bani Gala, Pakistan. It showcases that land degradation and biodiversity is at stake. A loss of natural and semi-natural classes of land caused by deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, urbanization, land tenure and poverty are evident. Species of plants and animals face high probability of extinction by soil excavation and poaching. Also, loss of forest to build houses results in increased carbon emissions.
It is time to promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests. The freshwater ecosystem is also disrupted by industrial, poultry and sewage waste that pollutes it. It is time to ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
To facilitate this is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve the 2030 Agenda. A collective action is required to facilitate the shift to a low carbon, climate resilient economy and support universal access to quality public services.
The SDG15 is about Life on Land to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
The forest areas continue to decline rapidly driven mainly by agricultural expansion that is causing species to extinct and intensifying climate change. Countries need to protect the biodiversity as well as the ecosystems.
Reversing the current trend in land degradation would improve biodiversity and would contribute positively to climate crisis through restoration, conservation and other land management actions. To overcome this nature/forest school can be built to conserve the ecosystem.
In 1982, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency opened the first nature school in Skäralid, in the south of Sweden's Södersen National Park.
Sweden currently has 70 nature schools, and thousands of students engage in weekly "outdoor days.
The national objective is to have at least one nature school in each municipal district.
Forest schools being in nature provides a learning platform that satisfies children's needs for awareness, sports, and togetherness. They learn how to protect it by having fun in the forest, fields, mountains and on lakes in all kinds of weather all year round. By improving knowledge about nature and understanding of the interrelationships in nature, this can change people’s attitudes.
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