2013 Celebrations – International Day of Forests

This new global celebration of forests builds on the successes of the International Year of Forests in 2011, and provides a platform to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and of trees outside forests.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that “Forests are vital for our well-being. They cover nearly a third of the globe and provide an invaluable variety of social, economic and environmental benefits.”

The first International Day of forests was celebrated around the world through tree-planting and other community-level events, including art, photo and film as well as social media outreach.

International Day of Forests tree planting celebration in China with UN DESA Under-Secretary-General Wu Hongbo (left) Minister of China’s State Forestry Administration Zhao Shucong and UNFF Director Jan McAlpine (right).

Mr. Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General of DESA, along with Chinese government officials, launched the International Day of Forests in China at a ceremony in Beijing on 21 March, 2013.

Documents

• The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon message on the 2013 International Day of Forests
• UN News Center Story “UN chief, marking International Day, urges greater protection for world’s forests”
• The United Nations press release on the 2013 International Day of Forests
• FAO Press release for the 2013 International Day of Forests
• China’s International Day of Forests web site | China’s photos and press release