In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as the International Day of Forests to highlight the importance of all types of forests and raise awareness about their role. In Armenia, this day is also celebrated as Forester's Day.
For 2025, the theme of the International Day of Forests is "Forests and Food", aiming to draw attention to the crucial role of forests in food security, nutrition, and livelihoods, as stated on the official website of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Forests serve not only as a source of food and fuel, providing income and employment, but they also help maintain soil fertility, water resources, and biodiversity by serving as vital habitats for many species. Forests are essential for the survival of forest-dependent communities, particularly indigenous peoples, and contribute to climate change mitigation by absorbing carbon.
Forests are of great significance both for nature and humanity. They enrich the air with oxygen, increase relative humidity, and play crucial roles in soil protection, water conservation, and climate regulation. They provide habitats for diverse flora and fauna. However, unregulated and illegal deforestation, along with insufficient forest protection measures, have led to forest degradation, undesirable changes in species composition, and increased wildfire risks.
Forests in Armenia
Armenia is considered a low-forest country. Forests and forested lands cover approximately 11.2% of the country's territory, about 460,000 hectares, out of which 334,100 hectares are forested areas, according to the last national forest inventory conducted in 1993. Deforestation has significantly impacted forest quality and species composition.
As part of its commitments under the Paris Agreement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Armenia has pledged to increase forest cover to 12.9% by 2030 and 20.1% by 2050.
March 21, 2025 at 15:21