Launch of International Year of Forests 2011

The United Nations declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness of sustainable forest management, conservation and climate change.
 

Forests play an integral part in the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people worldwide, supply the habitat for millions of species, and play a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change. But deforestation continues at a rate of 50,000 square miles per year.

With this in mind, the UN established the  with a resolution back on December 20, 2006 and invited world governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to make a concerted effort to raise awareness to strengthen conservation and sustainable development of all forests. The launch of the International Year of Forests will take place February 2, 2011 at United Nations headquarters during the ninth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests.

Various activities have been organized to celebrate the International Year and foster an exchange of strategies to promote sustainable forest practices. These activities include high-level panel discussions, film screenings, the issuance of the United Nations commemorative stamp series for the International Year, and other public events. Competitions ranging from photo, art, slogan, and essay writing are also being promoted in Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Jamaica, Lebanon, Poland and the Republic of Korea.