The UN General Assembly declared 2011 the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of forests.
Events will be held globally throughout 2011 showcasing actions towards sustainably managing the world's forests.
2 February 2011: The International Year of Forests was officially launched on 2 February 2011, in conjunction with the High-Level Segment of the ninth session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF 9), at UN Headquarters in New York, US.
The launch ceremony was presided over by Joseph Deiss, President of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly. High-level speakers included Deiss, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (through video message), UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang, and ministers from Croatia, Rwanda, Canada and Mexico. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, UNFF Director Jan McAlpine, Global Environment Facility (GEF) CEO and Chair Monique Barbut, and others.
The launch ceremony also included the premiere screening of the short film “FOREST” directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, and film clips from the winning entries of the International Forest Film Festival.
The UN General Assembly declared 2011 the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of forests. Events will be held globally throughout 2011 showcasing actions towards sustainably managing the world’s forests. [International Year of Forests website] [IISD RS Coverage of UNFF 9]