What is a tree? What is a forest? How important are forests, ecologically and economically?
Forests cover one third of the Earth's land, and have a vital role around the world.
Around 1.6 billion people - including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures - depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter. They are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than 80% of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.
This day (21 March) celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forest and was proclaimed as the International Day of Forests in 2012, by the United Nations General Assembly. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns. The theme for each International Day of Forests is chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. The theme for 2021 is "Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”
This talk will address the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. A special focus will be given to the Portuguese forests.
Speakers
João Neves Silva is an Assistant Professor at the School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, where he teaches Mathematical Analysis and Statistics. He is a researcher at the Forest Ecology research group of the Forest Research Centre. His research focuses on wildland fires and vegetation monitoring, including remote sensing of fire and vegetation, spatiotemporal patterns of burnt areas, pyrogenic emissions modelling, land use/land cover change mapping, long-term trends of forest productivity. He is a member of the editorial board of Remote Sensing journal.
Alexandra Correia is a researcher working for the last 20 years in climate change and carbon accounting in Mediterranean ecosystems. She is currently developing a project on mixed cork oak and stone pine forests bridging ecology, silviculture and the production of non-wood forest products like cork and pine nuts.
Ana Lourenço is a Forester since 2003, has a PhD in Forestry and Natural Resource Management (2012) from the School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon. Currently, her research work is in the field of chemistry of lignocellulosic materials using a multi-analytical approach. Her focus is on the valorization of different biomasses as feedstock for the development of bio-based products (e.g. bioactive compounds) under the concepts of biorefinery, circular economy and zero waste philosophy.
Contributions also from Joana Amaral Paulo & Catarina Tavares
All the speakers and contributors are integrated members of the Forest Research Centre (CEF) which is a research unit of the School of Agriculture (ISA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia), University of Lisbon (ULisboa, Universidade de Lisboa) and a FCT - funded member of the national R&D system
The United Nations General assembly has proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests. The day is observed each year to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of forests and trees to all life on earth. Please see this FAO video!