Listen to a Forest
*sound files collected from freesound.org8 out of 10 species that live on land are found in forests and around 750 million people, 60 million of who are indigenous people, live in forests. Forests account for around 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity of plants and animals. Last year forests absorbed around 30% of the world’s annual carbon emissions. And studies suggest that spending time in forests positively impacts humans’ health and well being.
Needless to say, forests are vital to our planet and all its inhabitants. And we are losing them at rapid rates. Learning to appreciate what they provide, and prioritizing their care and conservation is crucial to the health of our planet for future generations.
Take a few moments with your child today to connect to a forest. Listen to these forest sounds with your child ( better yet go for a walk in a forest if one is accessible!). You can find more forest sounds online (Spotify and Youtube have tons of tracks). Ask your child what they hear. Allow their own sense of curiosity to lead. It might turn into an imaginative adventure in a tropical forest like the Amazon, or a peaceful visualization of a snowy day in the North American Boreal Forest. Wherever it leads you take the opportunity to talk with your child about the different types of forests in the world, their importance, and why our care for them is essential.