The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. 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. On 21 March OneFortyOne (OFO) is hoping to have a winning video from a local student or school highlighting the importance of local forests. Source: Timberbiz
Australia has approximately 3% of the world’s forests, covering 17% of Australia’s land area, and is the seventh largest national forest area globally. The forests and trees throughout Australia as well as those in the Green Triangle provide jobs, conserve biodiversity and respond to climate change.
“We’re inviting students and schools across the Limestone Coast to send us a short video about why our local forests are so important. We need their help to spread the word about just how great our forests and trees are!” OFO’s Industry Career Champion Green Triangle, Linda Cotterill said.
Inspired by this year’s International Day of Forests theme ‘Forests and Education’, the team at OFO is passionate about continuing to raise awareness and understanding of forests and their benefits into young people’s lives from an early age.
“We are committed to working with students and educators across the region, looking for innovative and interesting ways to help young people understand how important forestry is. We thought this competition would be a fun way to do it and to get people out into the forests,” Ms Cotterill said.
With a team of professional foresters on hand, OFO is happy to go to classrooms and talk to students, there are also free teaching resources available from ForestLearning, that have a focus on Australian forests and sustainable timber products.
Students who enter the competition, go into the running to win their choice of an iPad, Macbook Pro or Apple watch, plus one for their school. And while the competition is open to young school age people, OFO is also encouraging schools to participate as either individuals, classes or as a whole school.
ForestLearning has Australian Curriculum aligned free teaching and learning resources, written by teachers – for teachers. ForestLearning teacher guides and student workbooks are free from the website (www.forestlearning.edu.au).
