Hanoi, Viet Nam. To celebrate the International Day of Forests 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the General Department of Forestry (VNFOREST) and the Vietnam National University of Forestry organized an event at the Viet Nam National University of Forestry (VNFU).

The objective of the event is to celebrate and acknowledge our forest resources by engaging national stakeholders, the international community and students to discuss the ‘Forests and Health’ theme in Viet Nam. The participants of the event are stakeholders, including future decision makers, the FAO national partners, lectures and students at the VNFU as well as local media. During the discussion, the participants will identify options going forward for increasing action for conservation and responsible use of forest resources and services.

The event focused on three main topics:

• Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP)
• Management of forest ecosystems for reducing emerging infectious diseases
• Green growth and forestry development

The theme for the International Day of Forests in 2023 is “Healthy forest for healthy people”.

The UN General Assembly established the International Day of Forests to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and of trees, which have been at the center of international discussions since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.

The theme of 2023 highlights the importance of forests and the forestry sector health at large. This can include prevention of emerging diseases, forest-derived medicinal products, recreational activity and mental health benefits of forests. Finally, it is crucial to underscore the role of forests for protecting biodiversity, maintaining life-supporting ecosystems, and addressing issues of climate change.