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| International Year of Forests | |
|---|---|
| Name | International Year of Forests |
| Proclaimed by | United Nations General Assembly |
| Year | 2011 |
| Theme | Forests: Nature at your service |
International Year of Forests The International Year of Forests was a United Nations observance proclaimed to raise awareness about the importance of Forestry and Forest conservation worldwide during 2011. The proclamation involved multiple agencies including the United Nations Forum on Forests, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the United Nations Development Programme, coordinating outreach with governments such as Brazil, China, India, United States, and regional bodies like the European Union. Major environmental organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature, Greenpeace, Conservation International, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature participated in promotion and implementation.
The designation followed a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly influenced by prior multilateral processes including the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and negotiations under the United Nations Forum on Forests. Proposals emerged from member states active in the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Ramsar Convention parties, drawing input from technical bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations's Committee on Forestry. Stakeholders such as the United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and civil society networks including Forest Stewardship Council affiliates endorsed a year-long observance to complement instruments like the Kyoto Protocol and regional initiatives such as the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization efforts.
Key objectives aligned with international policy agendas: promote sustainable management as advocated by the Convention on Biological Diversity and climate mitigation recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; support livelihoods as emphasized by the International Labour Organization and World Bank forestry programs; and enhance cross-sectoral coordination among institutions like the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The central theme—“Forests: Nature at your service”—connected to biodiversity priorities of the Convention on Biological Diversity, carbon sequestration discussions in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports, and land-use concerns raised in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Outreach materials referenced case studies from Costa Rica, Finland, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and New Zealand.
Global activities included events convened by the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Forum on Forests, regional conferences organized by bodies such as the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Organization of American States, and expert meetings with participation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Tropical Timber Organization. High-profile campaigns featured partnerships with NGOs like World Wide Fund for Nature, Greenpeace, and Friends of the Earth International, and cultural programs involving institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Scientific symposia drew speakers from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, and universities including University of Oxford, Harvard University, and University of São Paulo.
National strategies were developed by ministries in countries such as Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Kenya, and Sweden, often linking to national commitments under treaties like the Convention on Biological Diversity and engagement with funding mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund. Regional programs built on platforms including the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, the European Environment Agency, and the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission, with technical assistance from organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Grassroots campaigns involved indigenous networks connected to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and community forestry models tested in places like Nepal and Mexico.
The observance contributed to increased visibility for forest-related targets in international processes, influenced national policy adjustments in countries such as Costa Rica and Ethiopia, and catalyzed partnerships between institutions including the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on reforestation and restoration projects. Scientific collaborations expanded among research centers like the Center for International Forestry Research and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, informing subsequent assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The year helped mainstream forest issues into climate finance dialogues at forums such as the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Civil society visibility increased for organizations like Rainforest Alliance and Forest Peoples Programme.
Critiques came from environmental advocates and policy analysts who cited limited measurable outcomes relative to resources mobilized, drawing parallels to debates at the World Trade Organization and concerns voiced in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reviews. Observers from groups such as Friends of the Earth International and academic commentators at institutions like London School of Economics argued that high-level events sometimes sidelined local land rights issues highlighted by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and the Forest Peoples Programme. Implementation barriers mirrored challenges in multilateral cooperation seen in negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and funding constraints similar to those critiqued in Global Environment Facility project assessments.
The International Year of Forests informed subsequent initiatives including the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the follow-up International Day of Forests, and programmatic work by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Forum on Forests. It influenced bilateral and multilateral projects with financiers such as the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund, and regional development banks like the Asian Development Bank, and supported expanded research networks including the Center for International Forestry Research and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations. The observance is linked to ongoing policy dialogues within the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change processes and continues to inform campaigns by NGOs such as World Wide Fund for Nature and Conservation International.
Category:2011 in the environment