International Day of Forests
Welcome! Today, Friday 21st March, is the United Nations' International Day of Forests, and we are celebrating by sending out a newsletter all about all things green and leafy! This includes a vital project to protect old-growth forests in Sweden being funded by EOCA Summit Member Icebug in conjunction with NGO Naturarvet, as well as some important facts about why forests are so important for us and our green planet.
icebug helps secure ultimate protection
What's so great about forests?!
Primary and old-growth forests play an irreplaceable role in biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, water filtration and maintaining healthy ecosystems. (1) They provide a habitat for many of the EU’s endangered and endemic species and are prime examples of our natural heritage.
Yet despite their importance, these are rare and threatened habitats. In the EU today, these forest areas are often small, and fragmented making up 3% of the EU’s total forested area and 1.2 % of EU land. (2)
Even in a country as forested as Sweden, only 0.3% of the country can be considered “undisturbed primal forest”.
The losses to unprotected old-growth forests in Sweden amount to 1.4% per year, meaning they could all be lost by the 2070s, if the trend continues. To put this in perspective, Sweden’s old-growth forests have been cleared six to seven times faster than the Brazilian Amazon forest between 2008 and 2023. (3)
for swedish old-growth forest
This is why visionary Swedish footwear brand, and EOCA member, Icebug has committed to old-growth forest protection since 2017. The brand has contributed funding to NGO Naturarvet to purchase and protect old growth forests in Sweden, ensuring they are never farmed, logged or sold. It is currently Naturarvet’s number one corporate sponsor, having contributed nearly €300,000 to date!
This year, Icebug is working through EOCA Summit Membership to help fund Naturarvet’s purchase of the Klingervattskogen mountain forest , a 117 hectare site made up of 72 hectares of forest (which will now be forever protected from logging), 41 hectares of bog and 4 hectares of pasture. It is located 70 km northwest of Östersund, Sweden, making up part of a forest belt spanning all the Scandinavian Fells.
Founded in 2004, Naturarvet’s vision is that all of Sweden's animal and plant species that depend on old-growth forests should live in a secure habitat in viable stands. Through forest purchases, the organisation ensures protection in perpetuity. Having raised over 50 million SEK since 2015, Naturarvet has now acquired 921 ha of land, in 8 areas across the country.
Klingervattskogen Forest Image credit: Emil Lundström
LEARN MORE ABOUT NATURARVET
Lo Jarl, General Manager and Ecologist, Naturarvet:
"We are humbled by the great love for old-growth forest expressed by thousands of donors, of which Icebug leads the way as the number one corporate donor. Protecting old-growth forests is a top priority for restoring and preserving nature. A preserved old-growth forest means many lives saved, not just human lives. Together we are protecting precious Life on Earth!"
Image credit: Jukka Lausmaa
David Ekelund Founder/CEO Icebug:
"The Swedish government is leading the race to the bottom when it comes to caring for biodiversity and old-growth forests. Companies like ours can do their best to save some, but what it comes down to in the long run will be following the rules of the planet – not making up your own when they don’t fit. If governments of rich countries are more interested in making a quick profit, framing it as sustainable forestry, how can we expect anyone else to support life on this planet? Icebug is happy to donate through EOCA, and committed to raising our voice on this issue. We hope more brands and companies will join!"
Dan Yates Executive Director, EOCA :
“Forest ecosystems, in particular old growth and primary forests, are critical for the future of our planet. The latest IPBES report listed Forest Conservation as a key response option to the ecological crisis and EOCA has made that a key priority for both its granting and advocacy work.”
eoca forest protection projects
EOCA has long been active in forest protection, and helped fund Naturarvet twice before. The association currently has active forest projects running in Borneo, Columbia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Ecuador, and the Czech Republic. Today, on International Day of Forests, the association wants to celebrate old growth forests and the work of organisations such as Naturarvet and their donors, like Icebug, who work to ensure permanence for these unique and irreplaceable places.
wwf state of nature report 2024
According to the FAO State of the World’s Forests Report, the area of primary/old growth forest worldwide has decreased by over 80 million hectares since 1990. Forests currently absorb around 30% of all global carbon emissions. And of that, the world's largest and oldest trees are estimated to store an incredible 50% of all the above ground carbon More than 80% of the plants, animals and insects living on land can be found in the world's forests. This includes approximately 60,000 tree species, 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species, and 68% of mammal species Old growth forests are unparalleled at providing clean drinking water, and also help reduce the impacts of extreme weather events such as forest fires and floods The incredible diversity of life found in old-growth forests sustains species found nowhere else, and is essential for resilience against a changing climate, protection against disease and infestation, encouraging genetic and species biodiversity, and more.
we humans also need forests!
We all know forests are good for the planet - but they are good for us humans too!
Spending time in forests can help reduce stress, reduce blood pressure and improve your mood. And research suggests, they might even boost our immune system (4). In our busy and chaotic lives, finding time to look after ourselves and our mental health is always time well spent - so treat yourself and go and find one!
Wishing you all a mood-boosting, stress-busting Happy International Day of Forests!
The Team at EOCA
Image credit: Icebug
References:
(1)https://efi.int/sites/default/files/images/resilience/OLD-GROWTH%20FORESTS_28.06.21.pdf
(2) https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-forests-commission-adopts-new-guidelines-support-tree-planting-actions-and-protect-old-growth-2023-03-21_en#
(3) https://theconversation.com/sweden-has-vast-old-growth-forests-but-they-are-being-chopped-down-faster-than-the-amazon-218753#
(4)https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/health-and-wellbeing/
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European Outdoor Conservation Association, Chollerstrasse 4
