World Forestry Day is a time to celebrate British Columbia's greatest natural resource, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson said today at a ceremonial tree-planting event at the University of British Columbia.

Today's tree-planting event at UBC also recognized the increasing international reach of both the UBC faculty of forestry as well as B.C.'s forest industry. The special relationship with Asia, in particular, was highlighted with the Consuls General of both China and India taking part in the ceremony.

March 21 was first declared World Forestry Day in 1971, and has been celebrated annually around globe ever since. Its purpose is to remind people of the importance of forests, and the tremendous benefits they provide.

(flickr.com)

Quick Facts:

• B.C.'s forest industry provides over 50,000 direct jobs and accounts for over four per cent of the province's GDP.
• Less than one per cent of B.C.'s forests are harvested each year.
• By law, every tree harvested must be replaced. Each year approximately 200 million seedlings are planted.
• British Columbia has more land certified - 52 million hectares - to one of three internationally recognized sustainable forest management certification standards than any other jurisdiction in the world.
• Today First Nations hold about 14 per cent of the province's annual allowable cut, compared to just three per cent in 2001.

Learn More:

• Learn more about British Columbia's forests at http://www.gov.bc.ca/for