On April 21, 2011, Canada Post began issuing a new series of stamps commemorating the UN’s International Year of Forests. The UN’s mandate is to “raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management…for current and future generations”.
This new series of two se-tenant stamps features close-up views of the forest floor and the soaring heights of a new tree. Appropriate images, since a forest is not just about the trees, but the entire ecosystem, including flora and fauna.
A forest is an area with a high density of trees whose foliage and branches often meet. Forests once covered 50% of the earth’s total land area, but now figures rest at approximately 30% total land area. Canada has 4,020,000 square kilometers of forest which contributes to the beauty of this land and economic viability of the population; it is therefore appropriate that we play a role in drawing people’s attention to the preservation of this vital habitat.
It is important to understand the forest’s role in maintaining our quality of life. Indiscriminate and irresponsible deforestation can cause soil erosion, negatively affect the water supply and literally wipe out various animal and plant species. The World Bank estimates that 100 species a day are lost due to the deforestation of tropical rainforests.