International Day of Forests

On 21 March we observe the International Day of Forests, an opportunity to remember that forests are essential to life and well-being: they host biodiversity, help regulate the climate, protect soil and water, and generate value for territories and communities. On a planet increasingly shaped by climate change and extreme natural events, preserving forests is an immediate necessity. It requires informed decisions, a strong commitment, sustained action on the ground, and a long-term vision.

Along this path, science and silviculture go hand in hand. The knowledge produced responds to increasingly demanding challenges—from selecting species and provenances best suited to local conditions and market demands, to defining adaptive management strategies, and monitoring and analysing the risks of foreseeable constraints. Silviculture translates this knowledge into practices that foster more balanced, productive and resilient forest stands, capable of reconciling conservation, production and ecosystem services, strengthening the response to wildfires, pests, diseases and climatic extremes.

At CITAB and UTAD, this ambition is delivered through applied research, advanced training and knowledge transfer to the sector, integrating experimental and observational data, innovative tools and collaboration with different stakeholders. Links to international networks broaden the reach and impact of this work: IUFRO – the International Union of Forest Research Organisations – promotes the sharing of scientific evidence and the development of joint responses to global problems with national expression. UTAD is a member of IUFRO and CITAB participates in the Coordination of the Silviculture Division, reinforcing an active commitment to science that is relevant, collaborative and solutions-oriented.

On this International Day of Forests, we celebrate the connection between people, knowledge and forests, which is essential to ensuring a sustainable future.