The Importance of "The International Year of Forests" and Forests Around the World

During a special celebration in New York City on February 2, 2001 the UN officially declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests. This year is devoted to raising "awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. According to the UN FAO (Food and Agriculture Organizations); "Forests now cover about 40 million sq km - just less than one-third of the Earth's land surface," and "52,000 sq km were lost per year between 2000 and 2010, that was a marked improvement on the 83,000 sq km annual figure seen during the previous decade."

Facts about forests:

Approximately 30% of our planet's land area is forest.

Approximately one half of the world's forest carbon is found in boreal forests and over one third in tropical forests.

80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity is contained within forest. Estimates indicate that there are somewhere between 5 and 30 million species on Earth. Forests provide habitat for some two thirds of these.

Approximately 1.6 billion people depend on healthy forests for their livelihood.

Only approximately 1/5 of the world's original forests remain intact.

Forests around the World

In the US, the National Association of State Foresters offers ideas and resources for participation in the International Year of Forests in an effort to launch and support community action efforts as well as celebrate the achievements nationwide. They offer an event tool kit, messaging and artwork templates, "Forest for People" poster contest and a "This is my forest" video contest. First place winners of the poster contest are awarded $100.00 and second place $75.00. The US Forest Service is offering a series of events and events calendar, as well as many online resources "just for kids."

In the Sahel area of Africa, forests are helping farmers fight climate change as well as sustain their family farms. Using agro-forestry (mixing trees with crops) has restored the overworked soil allowing families in the area to not only provide a consistent source of food, but also enough to sell to create their own sustainable market place. The agro-forestry provides many benefits including providing shade and bulk to offer crops relief from heat and winds and dropped leaves provide mulch and fertilization as well as a food source for animals.

According to Eduardo Rojas-Briales, assistant director-general of the FAO's forestry department, Africa is not only in finding ways to increase its forest and find the benefits, he says "China has increased its forest by three million hectares (30,000 sq km) per year - no country has ever done anything like this before, it's an enormous contribution."

According to National Geographic, 21 of Canada's largest logging companies and nine leading conservation organizations announced the largest forest protection blueprint in history, spelled out in a 65-page Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement (CBFA). In this agreement it is proposed "that forest products companies would initially support protection of more than 70 million acres of vital caribou habitat originally slated for logging, and would manage more than 100 million acres under the highest standards of sustainable harvesting practices."

Unfortunately not every country if going green with their forests. According to this list by Conservation International, these hot spots have "lost more than 90% of their original habitat and which harbor at least 1,500 plant species that are found nowhere else in the world."

Are you interested in getting involved in the International Year of Forests? Visit this website sponsored by the UN to find information on special events being organized throughout the year, and to use interactive tools and resources to find out more about the International Year of Forests and how you can participate. Maybe your participation will even be featured on their website.

You can also contact the Arbor Day Foundation for information and ideas for community involvement.

"No shade tree? Blame not the sun, but yourself." Chinese Proverb

Sources:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

US Forest Service

National Association of Conservation

Global Forest Watch

National Geographic

Mathews, Emily, et al, Pilot Assessment of Global Ecosystems: Forests . (World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, to be published in Spring, 2000)