2011: The Year of Forests

Posted in Around the Garden on February 2 2011, by Plant Talk

The 50-acre, old growth  Native Forest is the heart of the Garden. It is one of the reasons Nathaniel Lord Britton settled on this 250-acre plot in the Bronx as the place to build his dream Botanical Garden, it is home to at least one tree that was alive at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it is home to some of the Garden’s most fascinating residents, it is a place where scientists can study everything from global warming to genetics, and it is a very fine place to go for a stroll. The Forest is a vital part of not just the New York Botanical Garden, but also of New York City, and the world.

For these reasons, and for so many more, we are delighted that the United Nations has declared 2011 “The International Year of Forests.” The UN says that the year is a “celebration of the vital role that forests play in people’s lives … amid growing recognition of the role that forests managed in a sustainable manner play in everything from mitigating climate change to providing wood, medicines and livelihoods for people around the world.”

We’ll be joining in on recognizing the International Year of Forests with a series of events throughout 2011 (but we’re not ready to announce them just yet). In the meantime, here are some other forest facts from the United Nations:

– The General Assembly declared 2011 the International Year of Forests to raise awareness of the sustainable management, conservation and development of all types of forests.

– Forests cover about 31% of total land area, amounting to just under 4 billion hectares, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

– At the same time, the agency estimates that 13 million hectares of forest are lost annually, due mainly to deforestation resulting from the conversion of forest land to other uses.

– At least 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their daily livelihoods and subsistence needs.

– Forests are home to more than 60 million people, mainly members of indigenous and local communities.

Learn about UN-sponsored events associated with the International Year of Forests, and learn more about the United Nations Forum on Forests.

And finally, if you want to learn even more, check out this 38-minute long press conference from the UN featuring Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Wangari Maathai, and assistant director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Eduardo Rojas-Briales.