Why is celebrated on March 21?

In 1971 at the request of the European Confederation of Agriculture, the FAO member states, accepted all 21 of March, from this year be held on World Forestry Day. The date represents the first day of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere, in order to impart a character simultaneously worldwide. Over time many countries have supported this
initiative.

It is important to note that this date all types of forests provide to the peoples of the world of essential goods and services, social, economic and environmental conditions and contribute to food security, clean air and water and soil protection, and that their operation sustainably is key to achieving sustainable development.

According to the Environment Outlook Report for Latin America and the Caribbean 2003, prepared by the United Nations Program for Environment (UNEP), the region lost almost 47 million hectares of forests between 1990 and 2000 (the second loss after Africa). The annual rate of forest cover change is -0.2% in the Caribbean and -0.4% in South America, Middle America is losing its forests faster with a deforestation rate of -1.2%.

Deforestation continues, mainly through conversion of natural forests for agriculture and housing, timber harvesting, the use of wood as an energy source (especially in Mesoamerica and Brazil) and forest fires.

Some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean offer incentives for the management of natural forests as exemption from land tax, technical assistance and grants or payments for environmental services, and demanding plans for the development of activities and limitations in the change of use of forest land.

The Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development's Office submitted in late 2002, the First National Inventory of Native Forests. Through this work it was established that the Black Forest area of Argentina, amounts to 33,190,442 hectares, which in nearly a century, were lost over two thirds of that natural resource since 1914 had an estimated 106 million hectares covered by masses
native forest.

The Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development Project is carrying out the Native Forests (BIRF 4085-AR) to identify priorities for actions to be proposed in relation to native forests, facilitate the development of a regulatory framework of incentives to encourage decision-makers political, public and private, to internalize within the decision making process the full range of social costs and benefits associated with their decisions and actions affecting native forests.

The Directorate of Forestry carries out programs and projects related to forests under the Forest Plan Argentino. They are:

National Model Forest Program
This is "to promote the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in Argentina, taking into account social equity and economic progress of the communities involved, from the perspective of local needs and global concerns.

National Forestry Statistics
Aims to "give effect to the Annual Program Statistics and Census, provides information of forestry within the area of its competence, the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC), who publishes in its Statistical Yearbook"

National Criteria and Indicators of the Montreal Process
Its objectives are: "To promote a shared vision and agreed on what should be understood as sustainable forest management" and "To provide a common framework for describing, assessing and evaluating the progress of our country towards national sustainability in forestry.

Non-Timber Forest Products Program
The objectives of this initiative are: "Collect and systematize information on NWFP in native forests in order to keep statistics of production, making its proper valuation and recovery as generators of development and as an indispensable tool for sustainable management of Instead of encouraging research and management related to them and their proper marketing.

Management Unit Assessment System Forestry
Tracking and monitoring of native forest area and update the contents of the database developed for this purpose. This will assist in formulating policies to meet the conservation, restoration, management and sustainable management of native forests, while improving related policy instruments and assist the private sector in defining methods and sound management these resources sustainably.