2011 United Nations International Year of Forests
"Celebrate Forests. Celebrate Life: the Official U.S. Celebration"
For information on what other activities are going on around
the country visit the the U.S. IYOF
site
We count on forests and forest products to be there for us every day. 2011 is the year to celebrate all the wonderful benefits of forests and explore the forests in your backyard and beyond.
Forests are a big deal for the whole planet. Home to 80% of world’s biodiversity and 300 million people, forests provide for the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people, almost a quarter of humanity. Forests cover 31% of the total land area and store more carbon than the amount currently present in the Earth’s atmosphere. They offer the quickest, most cost effective and largest means of curbing global emissions. Halving these emissions between 2010 and 2020 would save an estimated US$ 3.7 trillion. All these facts and many more show how important forests are for the survival and wellbeing of current and future generations. The International Year of Forests aims to increase public awareness about the multiple benefits of healthy forests and the ways to keep them standing and healthy. See more information at http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/forest/iyf/
MD DNR Forest Service wants to encourage you to visit, enjoy, and learn about the forests in your neighborhood and around the state. Here are some ideas to get you started on a small adventure that can become a big venture into greater understanding of our natural world.
Celebrate and Enjoy!
- Take a walk in the woods- Look around. There’s one not too far away, whether it’s a grove of trees in a park or one of Maryland’s many State Forests or Parks. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/mdmap.asp
- Stay in touch with the seasons. Relieve the winter blahs by seeking out the first blush of spring blooming in the trees and raise your spirits with the brilliant glory of fall colors.
- Relax in the shade of a tree. It just feels good in the summer, and you don’t have to think of all the other work being done by that shade, from keeping urban areas cooler to the energy conservation in shaded buildings, reduced formation of damaging ozone, and carbon sequestration to counter polluting emissions.
Learn and Explore!
- Where are Maryland’s Big Trees? Give geocaching a try and locate some new geocaches at some of Maryland’s champion trees, the largest examples of their species in the State.
- What are the trees of the Chesapeake? Learn to identify ten (or more!) trees common in Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/criticalarea/trees.html The Tree ID site by Virginia Tech is a good online resource http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/Idtree.htm or pick up any of the wonderful tree ID books at a local bookstore to be your companion in the woods.
- What are weeds gone wild? Learn about invasive weeds that threaten Maryland’s native forest ecosystems. http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/factmain.htm Find some better alternatives to landscaping plants that are causing problems in our natural areas. http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/index.htm
Make a Difference!
- Plant a tree - Celebrate Arbor Day or Earth Day by helping out with local planting projects.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/tremendous/volunteer.asp
Check with your county’s DNR Forester for dates in your area. - Keep it green - Adopt a newly planted tree and help water it when dry and keep the weeds at bay for the first critical year or two. This makes a huge difference in growth and survival. Just a little care during dry times helps out the tree and all the creatures that the tree will support. Casey Trees “25 to Stay Alive”
- Become a Weed Warrior - Cut back or pull invasive weeds and vines at a local park.
http://www.weedwarrior.org - Don’t move firewood - Buy it where you burn it, and stop the spread of damaging insects and diseases. Find out more at http://www.stopthebeetle.info/?gclid=CPuJiLOrwqYCFQ915Qod43m3Jw or http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/
- Check out the DNR calendar for more events in Maryland and the events section of Forestry for the Bay for activities in the Chesapeake Bay region.
National and International Events for the 2011 International Year of the Forest
The Big Ceremony: January 24-Feb. 2, 2011, United Nations Headquarters, New York. Check out winners of the International Forest Film Festival (IFFF) in collaboration with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. The theme was Forests for People, and the entries were from all over the world. Subcategories included:
360 Degrees on All Things Forest: Awarded to the film that best communicates humanity's social, cultural, economic or spiritual interconnectivity to forests.
Living Forests: Awarded to the film that most effectively showcases the rich diversity and complexity of the forest ecosystem.
Issues & Solutions: Awarded to the film that most effectively communicates solutions to environmental and sustainability issues facing forests and all its inhabitants, including people.
Forest Hero: Awarded to the film that most effectively celebrates the work of individuals or groups committed to forest research and sustainability.
“This is my forest”: Awarded to the film that tells the story of the forest, captures the best or most moving personal experience with forests, whether it’s in your backyard, in the city or in the country, that mean the most to you.
Shorts: Awarded to the best forest film of less than 15 minutes in length.
To learn more about The IFFF, please visit www.forestfilmfestival.org or the United Nations Forum on Forests
Short video competition- International! - “This is My Forest” Enter at http://www.gettoknow.ca/myforest/ Spend a little more time outdoors, capture images and sounds from your favorite part of the forest, and share your creativity. Young people 18 and under are encouraged to get outdoors and create 30 or 60 second videos that convey the theme "This is My Forest." Winners will receive some wild prizes, including the opportunity to have their video shown at special Get to Know IYOF events. The Contest will accept entries until May 23, 2011, so hurry up and enter your video today!
Poster Contest by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) with USDA Forest Service and Project Learning Tree- Submit a poster supporting the theme “Forests for People: More Than You Can Imagine!”. Entries are coordinated through local soil conservation districts, and cash prizes up to $100 will be awarded. Details can be found at: http://www.nacdnet.org/education/contests/poster/2011/forestry_2011.html
Environmental Exchange Box program for PreK through Grade 8 with Project Learning Tree - Share information and items from your local forest with an exchange partner elsewhere in the world.
http://plt.org/curriculum/PLTPreK-8_Activity%2020_Environmental%20Exchange%20Box.pdf
Congressional briefing and reception. The National Association of State Foresters and the American Forests Foundation are co-hosting a congressional briefing, reception, and exhibits at the Capitol Visitors’ Center on March 30, 2011.
Other national and international events are at http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/events.shtml
Watch for articles on Maryland’s forests in the Natural Resource!
In 2011, find a piece of your future in the forest!