7 February 2011: The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has announced that the theme for 2011 World Day to Combat Desertification will be “Forests Keep Drylands Working.”

Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, unveiled the theme and logo for the observance of World Day to Combat Desertification, which is celebrated annually on 17 June. Gnacadja noted that the theme was selected in an effort to “introduce the public to the best-kept secret of all time – the forests of the drylands,” during Forests 2011, the International Year of Forests. [UNCCD Press Release]