Nepal, March 21 -- Money may not grow on trees, but much of our prosperity does.

Forests quietly support trillions of dollars in economic activity, millions of jobs, and essentials like the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the climate we depend on. In reality, the global economy cannot function without healthy forests.

Forests are far more than timber. They stabilise soils and regulate water vital for agrifood systems and industrial productivity, supply energy and a wealth of forest products, and create space for recreation and ecotourism.

The formal forest sector alone contributes an estimated $1.52 trillion annually to the global economy, while more than half of the world's gross domestic product - some $44 trillion - relies on n...