International Day of Forests2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/67/200
About International Day of Forests
International Day of Forests is a United Nations observance on 21 March that celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. FAO supports the global observance and campaign resources.
The day can cover conservation, restoration, sustainable management, livelihoods, biodiversity, water and climate. Because forest needs vary by ecosystem and community, responsible activities should follow local ecological guidance rather than assume the same intervention is beneficial everywhere.
Why International Day of Forests matters
Forests are ecological systems as well as sources of livelihoods and cultural value. The observance creates space to consider those connected roles instead of reducing forests to a single issue such as carbon storage or tree planting.
The UN framing encourages local, national and international activities involving forests and trees, while the annual theme can highlight a different dimension of forest stewardship.
History of International Day of Forests
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 March as the International Day of Forests in 2012.
FAO records an inaugural International Day of Forests observance in 2013 and continues to coordinate resources with the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, which selects the annual theme.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Algeria
FAO’s institutional account of the establishment process states that Algeria initiated the draft resolution at the sixty-seventh session of the General Assembly after earlier FAO/UNFF recommendations had not produced an actionable General Assembly draft.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/67/200
First documented observance
A/RES/67/200 specified observance beginning in 2013, and FAO/UN institutional material identifies 21 March 2013 as the first International Day of Forests celebration.
Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in collaboration with FAO
A/RES/67/200 explicitly requests the Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in collaboration with FAO, to facilitate implementation of the Day, working with Governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and other relevant organizations and groups.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
World Forestry Day
How to Observe International Day of Forests
Learn which native forest types occur in your region and what pressures they currently face.
Join a restoration or tree-planting effort only when species choice, site selection and long-term care are guided by local ecological expertise.
Visit a forest, reserve or community-managed landscape and learn about its ecology, management and cultural significance.
Support credible forest conservation, Indigenous stewardship or sustainable-land-management work relevant to your region.
Use the current FAO campaign resources if your event needs the target year’s theme.
International Day of Forests Facts
International Day of Forests is observed on 21 March.
For International Day of Forests, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the day in 2012.
The first International Day of Forests was marked in 2013.
FAO supports the global observance and resources.
The Collaborative Partnership on Forests selects the annual theme.
International Day of Forests Messages
Wishing everyone marking International Day of Forests a day of discovery, respect for nature and care that continues beyond today.
On International Day of Forests, may appreciation for the natural world lead to informed stewardship and practical care for the places and species around us.
May International Day of Forests inspire curiosity about the living world and thoughtful action to protect it.
Celebrate International Day of Forests by learning from credible conservation sources and choosing one practical way to reduce harm or support protection.
International Day of Forests Quotes
“Forests cover nearly one third of our planet’s land mass, and are essential to life on earth.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
FAO / Collaborative Partnership on Forests — International Day of Forests (opens in a new tab)
FAO — establishment history: Algeria initiated the General Assembly draft; first International Day of Forests in 2013 (opens in a new tab)
fao.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
UN DESA — UNFF Secretariat designated to facilitate International Day of Forests with FAO (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/67/200 action note 21 December 2012 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — A/RES/67/200 facilitator mandate for UNFF Secretariat with FAO (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Forum on Forests — International Day of Forests (opens in a new tab)
Un Observance
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Forests?
21 March The documented recurrence rule is: 21 March.
Does International Day of Forests fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Forests an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / FAO international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of Forests?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Algeria. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in collaboration with FAO.
Is International Day of Forests international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / FAO international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When was International Day of Forests created?
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 March as International Day of Forests in 2012, with the inaugural observance held in 2013.
Is World Forestry Day a separate official UN day?
This guide treats World Forestry Day as an alias associated with the modern International Day of Forests rather than publishing a competing duplicate entity.
Is tree planting always the best activity?
Not necessarily. Planting should fit local ecology, species, land use and long-term care. Conservation or restoration activities may be more appropriate in some places.
Other observances on March 21
These observances are also listed on March 21, 2027.
California Strawberry Day
California Strawberry Commission first-party dietitian toolkits list March 21 as National California Strawberry Day and recommend it as an education/story opportunity about growers and farm…
Harmony Day
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government
Human Rights Day
The South African Government’s public-holidays page lists Human Rights Day on 21 March.
Independence Day
Namibia government history states that independence occurred on 21 March 1990 and that Independence Day is annually celebrated on March 21; the Public Holidays Act independently lists the s…
International Colour Day
International Colour Association (AIC)
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
A/RES/2142 (XXI)