Europa - Forests

The year 2011 has been declared as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on the preservation, maintenance and conservation of forests.

Economic, ecological, and social role of forests is of great importance for human life. Forests cover one-third of the world’s land area and constitute one of the most important elements of biosphere. They protect soil, human settlements and infrastructure, provide supplies of clean freshwater, help preserve and maintain biological variety, open up possibilities for quality recreation, and etc.

It is of crucial importance that forests produce oxygen and remove pollutants from the atmosphere.

Forests store carbon dioxide, the main type of gasses which cause the greenhouse effect; however, as a result of cutting, burning, and other adverse activities with regard to forests, they have become the main source of these gasses.