KUCHING: Sarawak is set to commemorate the International Day of Forests (IDF) 2025 with a state-level celebration on July 12 at the Forest Research Centre (FRC), here.
According to a press statement issued by IDF on Monday (July 7), “Internationally observed on March 21 each year, the International Day of Forests referred to as IDF was first introduced in 1971 as World Forestry Day to raise awareness about the importance of forests.”
“The day was later rebranded by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to reflect the growing urgency of addressing global forest-related challenges.”
This year’s theme, “Forests and Foods,” highlights the essential role forests play in ensuring food security, conserving biodiversity, and supporting local livelihoods.
Forests provide critical ecosystem services such as clean air and water, climate regulation, soil fertility, and pollination services that are vital not just to the environment, but also to the health and sustainability of communities.
The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS), which has been observing this annual event since 1973, continues to spearhead one of the longest-running forestry awareness initiatives in the region.
“In Sarawak, forests remain a lifeline for many rural and indigenous communities, offering both timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) including wild foods, medicinal plants, and materials essential to traditional practices and economic survival.”
The state-level celebration will be officiated by the Premier of Sarawak and will include a significant milestone: the symbolic planting of the 50 millionth tree, surpassing the original Greening Malaysia Campaign target of 35 million trees.
A key feature of this year’s celebration is the launch of the Forest Resources One Stop Gallery, a comprehensive showcase of Sarawak’s forest heritage, research, and environmental education efforts. Visitors can also expect a large-scale forestry exhibition involving participation from FDS, government agencies, NGOs, academia, and local community groups.
In the lead-up to the main event, a series of sports tournaments including badminton, futsal, golf, bowling, and traditional sumpit (blowpipe) competitions were held to foster camaraderie and stakeholder involvement.
The celebration will also witness the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen partnerships in sustainable forestry practices, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation.
Through the IDF 2025 celebration, Sarawak continues to position itself as a regional leader in sustainable forest management, reaffirming its commitment to nature-based solutions that promote resilience, ensure food security, and safeguard the environment for future generations.
