International Day of Forests: 5 reasons why we must protect forests

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March 21 marks the International Day of Forests, a day to remind every individual about the importance of forests. To call for the better protection of forests is to make us realize that we humans are the biggest beneficiaries. Below are the reasons why.

1. They are the main source of clean air

Trees absorb carbon dioxide that we exhale and release oxygen for animals and humans to breathe. It is estimated the amount of oxygen pumped out each day by a mature tree is enough for approximately 10 people to live on. As forests cover a third of all land on Earth, they serve as lungs that guarantee the health of this planet.

The tropical rainforest in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China. It is the most intact tropical rainforest in the high latitude and high altitude areas in China. /VCG Photo

The Xishuangbanna Virgin Forest Park in Yunnan Province, southwest China. /VCG Photo

Menglun tropical botanical garden in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China. /VCG Photo

The rainforest valley in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China. /VCG Photo

Closeup of tree roots in the rainforest valley in southwest China's Yunnan Province. /VCG Photo

Mengla Wangtianshu (Parashorea cathayensis) scenic spot in southwest China's Yunnan Province. /VCG Photo

2. They stop floods and wind

Tree leaves consume carbon dioxide in the air, while tree roots help absorb floodwater underneath the ground. The more flash floods they take, the less the soil will be flushed away, which means the chances of landslides happening will decrease. Dense forests erect a natural wall to weaken strong winds or even sandstorms, keeping wind-sensitive crops or cities from dust storms.

Zhangjiajie Forest National Park in central China's Hunan Province is the first national park in China. It is noted for over 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks with striking beauty. /VCG Photo

Sea of clouds in Zhangjiajie Forest National Park in central China's Hunan Province. /VCG Photo

Large waterfall on Baofeng Lake in Zhangjiajie Forest National Park in central China's Hunan Province. /VCG Photo

Zhangjiajie Forest National Park in central China's Hunan Province. /VCG Photo

An aerial view of Zhangjiajie Forest National Park in central China's Hunan Province. /VCG Photo

3. They cool off the environment

Too much carbon dioxide emissions in the air results in global warming. As forests are the primary consumer of carbon dioxide, maintaining them will help ease global warming, and the temperature in our environment will be maintained at a reasonable level.

4. They make rain possible

Tree roots suck up a great deal of water and release water into the air through photosynthesis. So a large area of forests will affect the atmospheric conditions above the area nearby and cause it to rain more often than the area without large forests.

The Mo'erdaoga National Forest Park in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. /VCG Photo

The sunrise in the Greater Khingan Moutain Range in north China. /VCG Photo

The aerial view of forests along the road in the Greater Khingan Mountain Range in north China. /VCG Photo

The forest along the river in the Greater Khingan Mountain Range in north China. /VCG Photo

Late autumn in the Greater Khingan Forests in north China. /VCG Photo

5. They provide foodfeed

Forests provide leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds to animals that feed on them so that predators are free to roam without worrying about not having enough vegetarians to eat.

(Cover image designed by CGTN's Liu Shaozhen)

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