United Nations International Year of Forests

Welcome to the United Nations. It's your world.

How do you inspire change? Throughout the International Year of Forests 2011, the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat and its partners asked just that and responded by creating various incentives for active participation in sustainable forest management. Contests with the underlying theme of Forests for People were launched internationally for persons of all age groups, celebrating innovative policies, everyday people as forest heroes and even children’s imaginative call for change. The real challenge: to get the word out about the value of forests and develop a new vision for a healthier environment. This year’s contests are featured below.

Forest Heroes Programme & Award

Achieving a sustainable future requires passion, innovation and strategy, but more importantly it requires the effort of everyday people. Read More

WFC Future Policy Award

In celebration of Forests 2011, the WFC collaborated with the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to honour the best in forest policy for the 2011 Future Policy Award. Read More

Children’s Art Contest

This year, the Gabarron Foundation is partnering with the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat to celebrate Forests 2011 by making the theme of their international art contest “Celebrate the Forests.” Read More

UPU Letter Writing Contest

The United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat partnered with the Universal Postal Union to organize the 40th international letter writing competition for young people. This year’s theme coincided with Forests 2011, prompting youngsters to imagine themselves as trees writing to people. Read More