21st March International Day of Forests

The International Day of Forests raises awareness of their role in life on earth. Forests are complex ecosystems, essential for the health of the environment and all living beings. They are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, and 1.6 billion people depend on them for shelter, food, energy, income and medicines.

Regarding climate change, forests are vital as they retain heat and absorb carbon dioxide. However, while we need forests more than ever, deforestation progresses at an alarming rate: the world is losing 10 million hectares of forest each year, which directly jeopardizes our existence on earth.

Our library has so many books about trees and some specifically about forests, so it is easy to celebrate this special day. 

Look for these books about forests:

Come on a walk with Grandpa to discover how a forest is made, and see how a thousand tiny things can come together to change the face of the earth… This gorgeous book features a non-fiction section about the different types of forests around the world, their importance to our ecosystem and the impact of deforestation on our planet.

Turn the pages and discover everything you need to know about deforestation and the ways we can tackle it. From scientists and conservationists helping to protect forest creatures, to tech inventions like robot tree-planters, this book helps children to discover the incredible solutions to deforestation that are being worked on around the world right now.

Step into the forest and explore the many worlds that exist beneath the treetops, from birds that make their nests up high to neighbourhoods of bugs who are working hard underground. Wander through the big worlds and tiny worlds of the forest, get lost in the quiet magic of the towering trees, and delight in the busy lives of all who live above, below and within.

There once was a forest . . .
So begins this timeless and touching story of renewal of a forest.

See it here.

This book is the ideal introduction to the environmental concerns facing our forests, featuring colourful illustrations and an engaging, light-hearted storyline, drawn and written by Brendan Kearney. Grown-ups and children will enjoy reading together and following the story of Finn and Skip, with its ups and downs, and pointing out all the different animals that Finn meets in the rainforest. They'll also learn about how using ethical products can help save the animals.

What can one person do in the face of global environmental degradation? Indian Jadav Payeng has proven that each and every one of us can make a difference. As a boy, he began planting trees on a sandbank in the state of Assam. Nobody believed that he would succeed in doing so. But since 1979, a forest the size of Central Park has emerged, offering a home to countless animals and plants. It was not until 2007 that a photographer accidentally discovered the forest and made Payeng known to the world beyond India.

Delve into the intriguing world of forests, and discover how they work, the animals they protect, and their millennia-long relationship with humans. Learn the science behind a single tree and the magical stories told about forests around the world, as well as how you could improve your wellbeing with a trip amongst the trees.

Forests are different around the world. They range from hot, damp rainforests to icy taiga forests, but all of them offer a home for animals and plants, precious natural resources and beautiful places to have fun, spot nature and find calm. But forests are under threat from climate change, habitat loss and pollution. Find out how we can all help to look after our precious forests, as well as enjoy them.

This nonfiction children’s picture book begins with a view of the forest at a distance, then zooms in on its fascinating details, including the amazing trees, bright birds, adorable baby animals, and other wonders of nature that inhabit it. The rhythmic text and inviting watercolor illustrations allow curious young readers to observe, explore, and learn what makes forests so special and vitally important.

 

SDG 15 Life on Land

Goal 15 Protect, and restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reduce land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Nature is critical to our survival: nature provides us with our oxygen, regulates our weather patterns, pollinates our crops, produces our food, feed and fibre. But it is under increasing stress. Human activity has altered almost 75 per cent of the earth’s surface, squeezing wildlife and nature into an ever-smaller corner of the planet.

The goal as stated above has so many aspects and is far too much to take in all at once for me, let alone a child under eight, so here I need to be very selective and break it into subheadings, such as deforestation, loss of habitat, extinction and  farming, all of which young children do know about and understand the meaning of.

Here is a list of books to select from.

The Tree by Neal Layton would be a good place to start because it looks at what will happen when a tree is cut down and it provides for debate about whether it was a good act or bad.

Here is the blurb:

A delightful picture book with a wonderful twist which encourages young children to think about the way animals and humans live side by side.  

The tree. Home to a family of birds in their nest, squirrels in their drey and rabbits in their burrow. But what happens to the animals when a man and woman decide to cut it down and use it for their dream house? Can the tree be home to both the animals and the humans? A simple yet fun and distinctive picture book, with a strong environmental message about the importance of respecting animal habitats.

Follow this up with a more factual book either more specifically about deforestation such as Marc Martin's Forest or reforestation such as Sally Nicholls and Carolina Rabei's book Who Makes a Forest?

Here's the blurb:

When a forest is cut down, the consequences are more than anyone could have anticipated. The forest is destroyed due to human greed, but grows again  through human care, giving hope and empowerment.

Teaching notes:

https://lamontbooks.com.au/media/19152/June-2012-A-Forest.pdf

Here's the blurb:

Who makes a forest? A wizard, a giant, an emperor? Come on a walk with Grandpa to discover how a forest is made, and see how a thousand tiny things can come together to change the face of the earth… Poetically written by award-winning Sally Nicholls and beautifully illustrated by Carolina Rabei, this gorgeous book features a non-fiction section about the different types of forests around the world, their importance to our ecosystem and the impact of deforestation on our planet. 

Of course this has only covered one aspect of this goal. You may choose to look at animal extinction or habitat loss. Many of the books on the Pinterest list also look at farming and the degradation of soil that comes with that and the hardship caused by climate.

From the booklet:

Ask • How can we make sure that we look after our land? 

 

• We read...

• This story made me think that we should...