International Year of Forests 2011, India

United Nations has declared year 2011 as International year of Forests (Forests 2011). The logo of Forests 2011 conveys the theme of "Forests for People" celebrating the central role of people in sustainable management, conservation, and development of our world's forests. The iconographic elements in the design depict some of the multiple values of forests and the need for a 360 degree perspective: forests provide shelter to people and habitat to biodiversity; are a source of food, medicine and clean water; and play a vital role in maintaining a stable global climate & environment.

Contribution of forests to the economy is traditionally recognized through products of economic value like timber as well as a range of non-priced products such as fuel wood, fodder and a range of Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs) including medicinal plants that are exchanged in an informal manner. The limited market exchange results in gross undervaluation of forests, which leads to inadequate allocation of funds to the forestry sector. Acceptance of ecological services of forests like hydrological benefits, soil conservation, flood control, carbon sequestration, fresh air generation, climate stabilization, bio-diversity conservation and amelioration of overall environment, eco-tourism etc. is recent outcome of the sustained awareness & mass communication efforts of the past few decades. Forests also play a very important role in rural and tribal economy as many of the NTFPs provide sustenance to a few hundred million poor people.