2011: The Year of the Rabbit ... and Forests

The Chinese calendar recognizes a dozen animals on a rotating basis each with their special "year." Last year was a very powerful one with the tiger holding the seat of honor. As we approach Chinese New Year 2011 (February 3), the rabbit will take center stage.

Similarly, the United Nations (UN) establishes a cause for annual global recognition and attention for its member countries. With a pre-planning schedule that is the envy of even the most obsessive scheduler, the UN voted in December 2006 to make 2011 "The International Year of Forests."

UN General Assembly Resolution 61/193 set as preamble, "Convinced that concerted efforts should focus on raising awareness at all levels to strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations,"

1. Decides to declare 2011 the International Year of Forests;

2. Requests the secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, to serves as the focal point for the implementation of the Year, in collaboration with Governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and international, regional and subregional organizations and processes as well as relevant major groups;

3. Invites, in particular, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as the Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, within its mandate, to support the implementation of the Year;

4. Calls upon Governments, relevant regional and international organizations, and major groups to support activities related to the Year, inter alia, through voluntary contributions, and to link their relevant activities to the Year;

5. Encourages voluntary partnerships among Member States, international organizations and major groups to facilitate and promote activities related to the Year at the local and national levels, including by creating national committees or designating focal points in their respective countries;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the state of preparation for the Year.

The Endowment Accepts the Challenge
Not surprisingly, we at the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, think that on this issue, the UN is right on target! While forests aren't the only issue in the world, they definitely are among the most important. As sources of the world's greenest of all products (wood and paper), homes to nearly incalculable wildlife, the sources of clean water for hundreds of millions of the world's human residents and places for recreation as well as spiritual re-creation, we think forests are worthy of recognition and honor.

Forests and Americans
As the work of the Endowment centers almost exclusively on those forests that fall within the borders of the United States, with an occasional joint-venture across the border with Canada, we don't have to think long or hard about the importance of forests. North America is indeed a continent of forests with cultures deeply rooted in forests. From the King's Trees (white pines) of New England to the once ubiquitous American chestnut that blanketed the Appalachians to the bald cypress swamps of the deep south to the giant redwoods and sequoias of California, tree cover blankets fully one-third of the nation.

But even where forests were not the natural dominate vegetative cover, wherever our people have gone so too have trees and forests. What American city doesn't have an Elm Street, Oak or Maple? We've learned that urban forests not only make our yards and cities more beautiful, but they make them more livable as well. Trees serves as natural filters for our rain and air, they lessen the blast of heat in the summer and cold winds in the winter.

The Year Ahead for the Endowment
Our work is rooted deeply and daily in forests. That won't change. However, as one of our organizational commitments to the International Year of Forests, we will be more intentional about sharing our approach to forests and the people that they serve through a monthly installment of our Blog to share more about what we are doing to advance sustainable forestry and the needs of those people nested within forest-rich environments.

So, to all Americans everywhere, "Happy Year of Forests!"