🌲 The Grove 🌳

About The Grove

The Grove is a celebration of World Environment Day, established by the United Nations in 1972 and celebrated on June 5th each year.

This page explores the world's forests, the keystone species that shape ecosystems, the champions who have fought to protect nature, and the actions we can all take to preserve the living world.

Why Forests Matter

• Climate: Forests absorb 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2 annually - 30% of human emissions
• Biodiversity: 80% of terrestrial species live in forests
• Water: Forests filter water, prevent erosion, and regulate watersheds
• Livelihoods: 1.6 billion people depend directly on forests
• Health: Forest bathing reduces cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate
• Oxygen: One large tree provides a day's oxygen for four people

The Crisis

We lose approximately 10 million hectares of forest each year - roughly one football field every second. The main drivers are:

• Agricultural expansion (especially cattle and soy)
• Logging for timber and paper
• Palm oil plantations
• Mining and infrastructure
• Wildfires intensified by climate change

The Hope

Forest restoration could remove up to 10 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes.

Countries are making commitments: the Bonn Challenge, the New York Declaration on Forests, the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration. Indigenous peoples, who protect 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity, are increasingly recognized as essential partners.

Every tree planted is a vote for the future. Every forest protected is a gift to generations yet unborn.