AusLeisure

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.

The UN cites a number of statistics that demonstrate the importance of forests to human health and wellbeing:

• Forests cover 31% of total land area.
• The livelihoods of over 1.6 billion people depend on forests.
• Forests are home to 300 million people around the world.
• Forests are home to 80% of our terrestrial biodiversity.
vCurrently deforestation globally accounts for about 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions, which is greater than the entire transport sector around the world.

To find out more about events being organised throughout the International Year of the Forest, or to share information about how you plan to celebrate 'forests for people' during 2011, visit the UN International Year of Forests website at www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/

Image: Burawan State Forest, courtesy of the Forestry Corporation.

Related Articles

22nd April 2010 - Ceremonial walk opened at Perth’s Kings Park

19th October 2009 - Urban trees deliver green benefits

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.