Secretary-General’s Message on International Day of Forests

秘书长国际森林日致辞

21 March 2014

2014年3月21日

Forests are the lungs of our planet. They cover one-third of all land area, and are home to 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity. They are crucial for addressing a multitude of sustainable development imperatives, from poverty eradication to food security, from mitigating and adapting to climate change to reducing disaster risk.

森林是地球之肺。森林占全球陆地面积的三分之一，80%的地球生物多样性聚居于此。要实现消除贫穷、粮食安全、缓减和适应气候变化、减少灾害风险等各种可持续发展的必要条件，森林具有不可或缺的作用。

It is estimated that 1.6 billion people depend on forests for food, fuel, shelter and income. The World Health Organization estimates that between 65 and 80 per cent of people rely on medicines derived from forests as their primary form of health care.

据估计，全球有16亿人依靠森林获得食品、燃料、住房和收入。而世界卫生组织则估计，全球有65%至80%的人口把森林衍生药物作为主要的保健药物。

Not only do forests provide essential economic safety nets for a significant number of the world’s poor, they underpin economies at all levels. Round wood production, wood processing and the pulp and paper industries account for nearly 1 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product. Non-monetary benefits from forests, such as water, energy, shelter and medicine, are estimated to be two to three times as great. Forested catchments supply three-quarters of freshwater, which is essential for agriculture, industry, energy supply and domestic use.

森林不仅为全球大批穷人提供了必要的经济安全网，森林也是各级经济的基础。圆木生产、木材加工以及纸浆和造纸工业，占全球国内生产总值的近1%。而从森林获得的不能以钱计算的利益（水、能源、住房和医药等），估计还要大一至二倍。森林地区的集水十分重要，它为农业、工业、能源供应和家庭提供了四分之三的淡水。

The International Day of Forests is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of all types of forests and trees to our economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being. However awareness must be coupled with concrete action. As we deliberate on the post-2015 development agenda, let us acknowledge the vital role of forests and pledge to work together to protect and sustainably manage these vital ecosystems.

各类森林和树木对全球的经济、社会、环境和文化至关重要，而设立国际森林日正是为了提高人们对这一重要性的认识。但在提高认识的同时，还必须采取具体的行动。在我们审议2015年后发展议程之际，我们必须认识到森林的重要作用，并承诺为保护和可持续管理森林这一重要生态系统而共同努力。

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