International Day of Forests 2026: Forests and economies

Forests power economies and support people’s well-being

Forests are fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economies. They support livelihoods, generate employment, reduce poverty and strengthen food systems for billions of people worldwide. For many rural and forest-dependent communities, forests are a primary source of income, nutrition, energy and resilience in times of crisis.

Beyond jobs and livelihoods, forests function as economic infrastructure. They provide essential ecosystem services — including climate regulation, water security, soil protection and disaster risk reduction — that underpin productivity across agriculture, energy, industry and cities. These benefits sustain economic growth while safeguarding natural capital for future generations.

Yet, despite their central role, forests remain widely undervalued and underfinanced. Investment in forests falls far short of what is needed to unlock their full economic, social and environmental potential. Closing this gap is critical to advancing poverty eradication, food security and sustainable development.

On the International Day of Forests, we highlight the need to recognise forests as engines of inclusive growth and well-being — and to scale up policies, partnerships and investments that place forests at the heart of resilient economies.