Soon Laid Barren
Artist:
Aaron McConomy
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.
Ahmed Djoghlaf
Executive Secretary
CBD Secretariat
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Luc Gnacadja
Executive Secretary
UNCCD Secretariat
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Christiana Figueres
Executive Secretary
Climate Change Secretariat
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