Forests for People, Forests for the Earth

The forests of the world are vast. 30% of the world’s land area is forest cover. The forests of the world are varied. Forests are not only the vast expanses of tropical forests in Brazil and the Congo, but also include the massive boreal ecosystems of Canada and Russia and the mangrove forests around the world.

The forests of the world support communities around the globe. Forests are home to 300 million people, but over five times this number – 1.6 billion people – rely on forests for their livelihoods. Raw timber products around the globe are worth around 250 billion dollars. The added economic value amounts to double that much.

Perhaps most importantly though, forests are the source of food and medicinal ingredients that constitute the difference between poverty and well-being for three quarters of the populations of some developing countries. Forest ecosystems shape our world. They provide essential environmental functions such as conserving soils, ensuring there is enough water and regulating the climate. Forests provide habitats to about two-thirds of all animal and plant species on earth. And in particularly arid part of the world, forests are crucial sources of sustenance during dry seasons and years. But humans are putting so much pressure on the forests of our planet that their ability to nurture and sustain us is in serious jeopardy.

The destruction of forests accounts for up to 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. And the deforestation of closed tropical rainforests could account for the loss of as many as 100 species a day.

The Rio Conventions, The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) have chosen the theme of forests for their annual Calendar.

Reflecting that 2011 is the International Year of Forests, this year’s calendar presents images and graphics that are humorous and thoughtful, provocative and touching, to show the important role of forests in sustainable development. For twelve months, people around the world will be celebrating the role that forests play for the world’s poorest. The 2011 Rio Conventions Calendar is designed to help illustrate the collaboration and partnerships that are needed to ensure that forests can continue to play their vital role for humanity.