World Forestry Day is celebrated worldwide every year on 21st of March in order to increase the public awareness among communities about the values, significance and contributions of the forests to balance the life cycle on the earth.
Together with my friends from Travel Blogger Indonesia, we agreed to post an article together on this day about forest. So, I think it is a good chance for me to share a little bit of what I think about forest and why I love going there. In here, I refer forest to areas dominated by trees both in big or smaller scale.
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Forest.
This one word might remind some people of Tarzan and Jane, Jungle Book or Indiana Jones or any wilderness things that they can think of. Crocodile, snake, and friends. Ok. Anything wild out there.
Me, may be (used to be) one of them.
During my school days, I learnt about forest and environment theoretically in the class. However, as a girl who lives in a big city for almost my whole life, to experience it personally, NEVER. I wasn’t really exposed to nature or probably didn’t get chances to experience it myself in the past.
Until about 3 years ago..
..I guess, my life was too flat that time. Hence, I started looking for a little ‘adventure’ and hoping to make new friends along. And there, Trekking to Pelepah Falls in Malaysia was my first introduction to the forest and since then, my interest about nature was slowly growing.
I was actually quite surprised that despite that was my first trekking trip, I didn’t bother about all the inconveniences and the unfamiliar environment. Instead, I enjoyed it very much which eventually I craved for more. My family and close friends often to relate forest and mountain to me because of the excitement they could see obviously on my face if we plan going to such places. But true enough, if I were to choose whether going to shopping malls or national parks during my holiday, they answer is clear.
There is ‘something’ in the Forests
Every time when I go for trekking or hiking where I have to pass through forest, somehow all my senses started being forced to work in positive ways. I can sense the calmness, the soothing colors of the leaves and plants around, the smells of the fresh air, the natural sounds and voices. I must say that those experiences recharge my body, mind and soul. I feel life, strength and balance in there. That’s probably why I love going there despite all the sweats.
Life, strength and balance.
I remember of one quote from “Pete’s Dragon” movie, saying that “There is a magic in the woods.” which is sort of resonating with what I think. I am not talking about the spooky stuffs or the invisible dragon but much more to the impact given by the forest itself to us – humans and to every living creatures on this earth. Talking about movie, it also reminds me of “Kong: Skull Island” movie as well that showing the importance of keeping the ecosystem balanced.
Importance of Forests
I can’t imagine if all the forest in this world is disappearing slowly because of the human acts – deforestation by burning and clearing the area for own personal gain. It is not only about losing the trees but also the habitat for millions of species in there. Which after drives to climate change of the area and impact to global warming.
I believe everything works both ways. We can’t expect something good in return by doing something harmful to it. I am glad that I am still freely to touch the big trees in the forest when I go trekking, see the plantations along the journey from my train window, spot squirrels or monkeys jumping from one tree to another at some places. Or simply enjoy the greens from the trees around my neighbourhood.
Hope that our next generations will be able to enjoy the earth with the condition at least still as green as we see today. Meanwhile, let’s do our part to show our care to the environment. If not us, who else?
See what my friends have to say on this World Forestry Day. Most of those articles are in Indonesia though but hey, we can use Google Translate. So, Happy World Forestry Day! :)
- Mas Edy: Hutan Jati Sengsara Berbuah Cinta
- Rey Maulana: Hutanku Dulu Hutanku Kini
- Albert Ghana: Suatu Pagi di Hutan Desa Benowo Purworejo
- Parahita: Cerita Hutan dari Tiga Perempuan
- Liza Fathia: Hutan Wakaf
- Olive: Keluh Kesah Pepohonan
- Yofangga: Pleidoi Si Penebang Hutan
- Titiw: Hutan Itu Berharga. Hutan Itu Indonesia
- Shabrina: Sustainable Travel: A Path Toward Sustainable Forestry
- Firsta: International Day of Forests: Stories About The Forest
- Atrasina Adlina: Bumi Semakin Kerontang, Hutan Sering Ditebang
- Indri Juwono: Gemerisik Hutan Pinus Bandung
