Calling all teachers: Show our forests some love and win a trip to Rome!

Trees are very important as they provide our planet with essential environmental services while also giving us jobs, products and fun. To celebrate the many fantastic things about forests, both natural and planted, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is running a competition ahead of International Day of Forests on 21 March 2019. The prize: a trip to Rome!

According to FAO, "the 2019 theme for the International Day of Forests is ‘Forests and Education' and we want the world to know how you educate children and youth about the importance of trees and forests. Today, when more than half the world's population lives in cities and are increasingly disconnected from nature, it is more essential than ever to bring an understanding and awareness of forests and their benefits into children's lives at an early age."

FAO is inviting teachers, educators and parents to produce and submit a short one-minute video that shows how you impart a better understanding about the importance of forests and trees for our planet's future. This could be a video of a traditional class, nature walk into a wooded area or plantation, a local park with trees, an artwork, a song or music lesson or even an exercise class.

The Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) and Forestry South Africa have put together some resources with specific facts on the South African forestry and forest product sector.

Visit the special page on www.forestryexplained.co.za for more information.

Deadline for entries is 15 December 2018. (We recognise that this is after schools break up for the SA summer holidays. It could however be a fun activity for these last few weeks of school.) 
How do I enter?
To enter the contest, just follow these steps:

1. Make a short video that shows how you teach children and youth about the importance of forests. The video should not exceed 1 minute and can be produced with any professional or non-professional device (smartphone, tablet, video camera). The image quality must be in High Definition (HD) or in Standard Definition (SD). Both are common image quality standards, which are usually provided in cameras and smartphones after the year 2000.
2. Fill in the entry form
3. Read through the FAQ's and terms and conditions for more information.

Your contribution will be posted on FAO's website and the winner of the contest will join us at FAO headquarters in Rome to help celebrate the International Day of Forests on 21 March 2019 and to demonstrate how children and youth are taught about the importance of forests. 

PLEASE NOTE: This competition is organised by the FAO. PAMSA and Forestry South Africa are merely encouraging South Africa's teachers and educators to enter. Refer to the FAO for information.

Source: PAMSA