Today, 21 March, we celebrate International Day of Forests, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of these living beings, as they are gradually disappearing due to the human presence. Agricultural expansion is responsible for almost 90% of global deforestation and soil degradation contributes to the extinction of species. According to WWF about 47% of the world's forests face a high risk of deforestation or degradation by 2030.
Forests are essential to fight climate change, as they contribute significantly to the benefit of present and future generations. They also play a key role in the eradication of poverty and contribute to the achievement of many targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In fact, Goal 15 is entirely dedicated to forest management, combating desertification and halting biodiversity loss.
Forests are threatened by wildfires, drought, pests and unprecedented deforestation. This day is a call to care for forests, not just benefit from them. It is only through healthy forests that we will achieve healthy populations. After all, they provide nutritious food, medicines, fuel for heating homes and cooking. They prevent cold-related illness, ensure food safety and the physical and mental health of rural and urban populations.
On this day, we would like to share with you The Beauty of the Earth and other Albanian tales from the living voice of the people, an anthology of 106 folk tales, collected at the beginning of the 20th century, many of them from Albanian villages. These tales bring us into a mythical and magical world, linked to a mixture of national and foreign traditions. We at Libros de las Malas Compañías would like to recommend this anthology because it reminds us of the importance of the forests and how crucial they are to our daily lives.
