On the International Day of Struggle against Tree Plantations let’s define the forest by its true meaning

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On September 21st several activities will be coordinated around the world to celebrate the International Day of Struggle against Tree Plantations.

For WRM is also a day to challenge FAO present definition of forest which has important and serious implications as long as even a monoculture of exotic trees is considered to be a forest. That is why on September 21st an open letter signed by more than six hundred scientists from all over the world will be presented to FAO expressing their disagreement with FAO definition of “forest” and calling on the organization to initiate a process for the review of this definition. Signatures will be received until September 21st at http://www.wrm.org.uy/forests/letter_to_the_FAO.html

As part of the actions, a new VIDEO produced by WRM will be launched on September 21st. “Forests, much more than a lot of trees” gathers testimonies of forest people around the world who tell what the forest means to them and will be available in our website.

We will also launch the new WRM briefing “The definition of forest”, giving our arguments of why we must continue to challenge FAO regarding the way this publicly funded agency currently defines “forest” and explaining how this definition leads to constant negative impacts on the lives of a great many communities around the world and weakens their struggles to live with dignity.

The briefing, the video and the final list of signatures of the letter to the FAO will be available in our website on September 21st. All this information will be posted on the front page of our web site. Stay tuned!

On the International Day of Struggle against Tree Plantations let’s resist the expansion of monoculture tree plantations, let’s define the forest by its true meaning.