International Year of Forests

The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations^[1] to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

• Forests are an integral part of global sustainable development.
• According to World Bank estimates, more than 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods with some 300 million living in them.
•  The forest product industry is a source of economic growth and employment, with global forest products traded internationally is estimated at $327 billion.
• . Conversion to agricultural land, unsustainable harvesting of timber, unsound land management practices, and creation of human settlements are the most common reasons for this loss of forested
• According to the World Bank, deforestation accounts for up to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.