The International Year of Forests 2011 offers an opportunity to raise public awareness of the challenges facing many of the world's forests and communities who depend on them. The Year will also provide a means to build momentum towards greater public participation in forest activities around the world.

Official launch of the Year will take place at United Nations Headquarters during the ninth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (February 2nd and 3rd 2011). The program will include panel discussions, media activities, film screenings, issuing the UN commemorative stamp series, and other public events.

The International Year of Forests 2011 website being developed by the UNFF Secretariat will provide an online platform for all information materials for celebration of the Year. This multi-media site will feature interactive web tools to elicit feedback and dialogue, and include key components such as a calendar of national, regional and international initiatives related to the Year, which will feature forest news items and a press kit with fact sheets, brochures and other informational documents related to critical forest issues.