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Forests and biodiversity are too precious to lose – Regional Forestry Officer
“In a time where we are faced with the Coronavirus, it is hard to think of anything else other than the virus. Things that we have taken for granted are now no longer or less available and we are beginning to realise the true value of these necessities now that they are gone,” said Claus Eckelmann.
Eckelmann is the Regional Forestry Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations [FAO].
A pristine forest
According to him, the International Day of Forests recognised annually on March 21, is about realising the value of our forests before they are gone. The word “Forest” comes from the Latin word “out there” meaning outside from where we live and work. In the Caribbean, we would refer to this as “bush”, something which is ‘out there’ but seldom considered useful. However, in the Caribbean, forests play a much more significant role than just something, which is ‘out there’, Eckelmann noted.
But for the FAO, he said that forests are recognised as major contributors to food security and sustainable food production in the Caribbean.
Thus, in recognising the International Day of Forests, FAO is encouraging people to not forget some crucial facts.
Among these he said are: “our Islands are surrounded by saltwater, we therefore know how precious freshwater is. The best water is collected from in and around forests; the islands in the Caribbean are densely populated, the forest in the coastal areas were converted into agricultural land, leaving forests only on top of the mountains, in gullies and ravines. In the areas where no one wanted to work, the terrestrial biodiversity of our islands survived. Plant and animal species that were believed to be lost survived “OUT THERE” are now coming back. The gullies harbour the biodiversity, which is now needed to restore abandoned agricultural fields; a forest cover on steep hills holds the soil and reduces the risk of flash floods; well-managed forests can be the source of sustained income: forest not only provide timber for construction and fuel wood to cook, they are a habitat for bees to produce honey and a source of food; more than 80 percent of the terrestrial biodiversity on our islands is found in the forest. Diverse genetic resources are crucial to the development of new medicines and synthetic materials. To preserve these genetic resources, we must preserve the forest; the biodiversity we have on our islands developed into a self-balanced ecosystem, thus, importing alien species may destroy this equilibrium. We must therefore, carefully consider the risk when importing new plant or animal species.”
Moreover, Eckelmann said that everyone has a role to play in the protection of our forests. “Think twice before you cut a tree in your yard, instead plant a new one, trees offer fruit and help keep our surroundings cool, it attracts butterflies and birds. An older tree gathers many species and by itself forms a biotope,” he said.
And if in doubt, Eckelmann quipped, “just remember the slogan of this year’s International Day of Forests: Forest and Trees are too precious to lose!”
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