In 2012, The United Nations General Assembly declared March 21st to be the International Day of Forests. Also known as World Forest Day, this special day marks the celebration of all things “trees,” and we mark it by raising awareness of the importance of trees and forests through a variety of activities and events. Here at Jacaranda, we are proud to recognize and celebrate World Forest Day.
“Forests are the lungs of our land,” Franklin D. Roosevelt, our 32nd president, once said, explaining how they work by “purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” While we often see trees as merely part of the landscaping or just another building material, forests are also a necessary part of our lives, giving us oxygen while purging the air we breathe of carbon dioxide.
During the photosynthesis process, tree leaves convert carbon dioxide into compounds that they use for food. They then release oxygen as a byproduct. A single tree can release enough oxygen to supply four people for a full day. That same tree can also absorb nearly 50 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year, making it essential to our survival.
On World Forest Day, we have an opportunity to pause and reflect not just on this life-giving aspect of trees but on all the ways they nurture and support us. This year’s theme is “Forests and Health” with a special focus on how trees can help us keep the air and water clean, capture carbon, and provide us with food and medicine.
According to the United Nations, children who are exposed to forests eat a more diverse diet than other children. Forests can also help lower heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. Trees also release chemicals called phytoncides, chemicals with antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help our immune systems stay strong. Forests can even keep our minds healthy by boosting our attention span and improving impulse control.
Unfortunately, despite these clear benefits that forests offer, we’re still losing millions of hectares of forests each year to deforestation. Another 35 million hectares of forests are lost to insect damage.
Sustainability is key to protecting our forests, combating climate change, and protecting future generations. At Jacaranda, responsible forest management is our priority. We know that managing forests and their resources responsibly can help alleviate poverty and protect the health, economy, and social structures of the people who depend on them.
Responsible forest management also protects the forests and environment. We work every day to refine and perfect our methods, taking care to choose trees based on maximum yield with minimum environmental impact. Our team uses a patented veneer-slicing technique that increases the yield of each log by about 300%, which means that what used to require three trees now requires just one.
Jacaranda also supports a variety of environmental organizations both financially and otherwise and is a proud member of the Forest Stewardship Council and the U.S. Green Building Council. We use plantation-grown trees to produce our wood veneers and lumber and also use readily available species to reconstruct rare and exotic species to minimize the effects on the environment. Contact us today to learn more about our commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly choices or to schedule an appointment with a member of our design team.
