The International Day for Biological Diversity
22 May 2011

International Year of Forests and forest biodiversity

2011 is the International Year of Forests and forest biodiversity is the theme for this year's International Day of Biodiversity (IDB).

Designation of IDB 2011 on the theme of forests provides Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and everyone interested in forests, the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and increase practical action.

The United Nations Forum on Forests has, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the CBD and other UN Agencies, Member States and mayor groups, started the Forest Heroes Award and Programme to identify and honour individuals dedicated to promote sustainable forest management.

TEMATEA tool on international commitments related to forest biodiversity Following the request of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the Secretariat of the CDB is developing a new forest module on international commitments related to forest biodiversity. The module will support a better and more coherent national implementation of forest-related international instruments. It will be officially launched on the International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May 2011.

International Economic Forum of the Americas, Conference of Montreal, 6-9 June 2011 The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in cooperation with the International Economic Forum of the Americas will hold a 2-day expert workshop on investments into forest ecosystem services, including the role of biodiversity for mitigating investment risks. The workshop will be organized in the context of the International Year of Forests 2011, and follow-up to the “International Day for Biological Diversity” (IDB) on May 22, which focuses on forest biodiversity. In the same context there will also be a Panel Discussion at the 17th International Economic Forum of the Americas, Conference of Montreal, on the topic “Biodiversity, Carbon, Water, and More: Investing in Forest Ecosystem Services”.

Annual competition of the Club Photo International: trees - deadline 15 Nov
The Club Photo International (CPI) is organizing a photo competition on the subject of trees in the context of the International Year of Forests.
2011.08.09 - Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF):
Increased forest threat from extreme weather. Improved forest management needed
An international partnership for forest conservation and improvement warned today that extreme weather events and natural disasters will pose an increasing threat to the world's forests in coming years, requiring heightened cooperation between regions and countries.