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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