World Forest Day: We can do more to protect tropical rainforests

The pneumonia epidemic is raging around the world, making us pay more and more attention to lung health.

However, what is most closely related to the health of our lungs is the quality of the air.

What really has a decisive impact on air quality is green forests.

The existence of forests is not only related to the health of our lungs, but also related to the survival of mankind.

Those of us who work in the Mengyuan Wonderland Tropical Rainforest in Xishuangbanna are more in awe of the forest.

In order to express mankind’s gratitude and awe for forests, the United Nations designated March 21 every year as World Forest Day.

Protecting forests, especially tropical rainforests, is not only our business, but also everyone’s business.

"World Forest Day" was initiated by Spain in 1971 at the Tenerive Island Conference of the European Agricultural Union and unanimously adopted by the conference. In the same year, it was officially recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in order to Countries attach great importance to the protection of forest resources and achieve sustainable utilization of forest resources by coordinating the relationship between humans and forests.

The significance of protecting forests

Forests are called the lungs of the earth and the cradle of mankind.

It is the largest terrestrial ecosystem on earth and an important link in the global biosphere. It plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the earth.

However, with human progress and economic development, the rate of forest disappearance is also increasing. West Africa has lost 90% of its forests in the last century.

According to statistics, the world's forests are currently disappearing at a rate of 12 million hectares every year, and this figure is still growing.

According to the United Nations Environment Program report, as of now, the world's forests have been reduced by half, and the main reason is human activities. As the forests gradually disappear, the most direct impact is the deterioration of the ecological environment. , global greenhouse effect, soil erosion, land desertification, species extinction, and biodiversity reduction.

In August 2019, the Amazon rainforest fires continued to burn for more than 20 days, burning 500,000 hectares of forest. As a result, the total amount of oxygen used by humans every year will drop by several percentage points, and the global temperature is expected to rise by 1 this year. °, what is even more frightening is that the damage caused by this fire will take at least a hundred years to repair.

From September 2019 to January 2020, Australian bushfires continued to burn for 4 months. More than 10 million hectares of land and vegetation were destroyed in eastern and southern Australia, and 1 billion animals were killed, accounting for approximately Six million hectares of forest covering 20% ??of Australia's forest area were destroyed, releasing about 350 million tons of carbon dioxide. The consequences of such a staggering loss are even more unpredictable.

In fact, every destruction and every disaster is closely related to each of us...

Therefore, protecting the environment and guarding the forest is already a very important matter. Urgent matters, let’s take a look at the value a tree can bring to us.

Protect the forest, we are taking action

Amidst the crisis of ecological deterioration and global warming, the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve Management Bureau and Mengyuan Wonderland have been recognized by the United Nations for sustainable development With the support of the Target Capacity Building Project Office, *** jointly launched the "Yunnan Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve Mengyuan Wonderland Tropical Rainforest Protection and Ecological Restoration Project" to jointly protect the only green forest at 21° north latitude.

On November 25, 2019, the Mengyuan Wonderland Tropical Rainforest Protection Project was officially launched. It uses the biodiversity characteristics of Mengyuan Wonderland Valley Tropical Rainforest, Lime Mountain Monsoon Forest, and Karst Cave to carry out many tropical rainforest protection and Nature education activities aim to protect tropical rainforests and promote the harmonious development of man and nature.

On January 18, 2020, the first batch of 20 tropical rainforest restorers arrived at Mengyuan Wonderland, started rainforest protection practices, and carried out a series of rainforest restoration feasibility studies at the Mengyuan Wonderland Tropical Rainforest Laboratory. experiment.

Mengyuan Wonderland tropical rainforest protection content:

(1) Tropical rainforest natural education

Carry out rainforest natural education learning, practice and training:

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Basic knowledge of tropical rainforests

Importance, threats and protection of tropical rainforests

(2) Tropical rainforest environmental protection activities

Carry out practical activities for tropical rainforest environmental protection:

Tropical Rainforest Environmental Protection Oath

Tropical Rainforest Environmental Protection Publicity and Environmental Improvement

Tropical Rainforest Environmental Protection Diary

(3) Tropical rainforest protection activities

Go deep into the rainforest to carry out rainforest resource patrols:

Maintenance and repair of patrol roads

Tropical rainforest Natural resource protection and patrol

Writing of patrol report

(4) Tropical rainforest ecological restoration

Gradually restore the rubber forest in the designated area into a rainforest :

Rainforest nursery planting

Rainforest tree planting activities

Return of rainforest species

(5) Tropical rainforest scientific research

Carry out scientific research on tropical rainforests:

Monitoring of tropical rainforest ecological restoration

Survey on tropical rainforest biodiversity

Scientific research on tropical rainforests

(6) Tropical rainforest support education activities

Go to community schools around the tropical rainforest to carry out support education activities:

Improve the level of rainforest community education

Popularize knowledge about tropical rainforest protection

Promote the harmonious development of man and nature

Conclusion

Forests breed life and carry hope. We invite all of you who love nature and forests to come and experience the beauty of the forest. Deep beauty, and protect the green earth together.