International Day of Forests 2026 observed with theme Forests and Economies

Key facts

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared March 21 as the International Day of Forests in 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of forest ecosystems.
• The theme for the International Day of Forests 2026 is Forests and Economies, focusing on the role of forests in supporting livelihoods and driving economic prosperity.
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than 1.6 billion people globally depend on forests for subsistence, income, or employment.
• The forest sector provides at least 13 million formal jobs and approximately 45 to 50 million jobs in informal and small-scale forest-based enterprises.
• Mukurthi National Park, which comprises grasslands and the Shola ecosystem, is considered the heart of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in India.
• Forests contribute to a sustainable bioeconomy by offering nature-based alternatives to carbon-intensive materials and protecting watersheds.
• The 2026 observance aims to place forests at the centre of resilient and long-term economic planning across sectors.