Today is the 40th World Environment Day... Forests: Nature at Your Service–Forests: Nature working for you

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To support the United Nations International Year of Forests, the theme for World Environment Day on June 5, 2011 was set as “Forests: Nature at Your Service,” aimed at highlighting the value that forests provide for sustaining human life, as well as the inherent connection between the quality of human life and the health of forest ecosystems. From 1990 to 2005, 3% of the world’s forest area was lost, and the disappearance of forests will have far-reaching consequences. World Environment Day in 2011 provided an opportunity for humanity to recognize the important contributions of forests to the ecosystem, long-term economic benefits, social value, and human well-being, and to raise global awareness of forest conservation. February 22, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced that India would be the host country for World Environment Day on June 5 this year. India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and it also supports the transition to a green economy. This is the first time India has hosted World Environment Day. India has a forest coverage of 20%, and it is home to the world’s largest deltaic mangrove forest, the Sunderbans. It also serves as a habitat for one of India’s oldest wild species, the Bengal tiger. In protecting its important forest ecosystems, India has successfully implemented relevant projects to monitor the condition of its flora and fauna, water resources, and other natural assets. At the same time, India has also implemented compensation afforestation programs; any use of state-owned forest land for non-forestry purposes is compensated for through reforestation in areas affected by land degradation or in non-forest areas. The compensation funds will be used to improve forest management, strengthen forests, and protect watersheds. In addition, India has established specialized agencies to manage this program. India has also established a \"Clean Energy Fund\" and included it in its budget. The fund not only provides subsidies for green technologies but also forms the basis of India’s \"Climate Change Action Plan\" (which sets specific goals for issues such as energy efficiency and the protection of Himalayan ecosystems). Recently, India has also planned to build a solar power plant and wind farm covering an area of 50,000 hectares in the Karnataka region in the southwest. Upon completion, the project will be able to generate 20 million kilowatts of electricity from solar power and 5 million kilowatts from wind power, making it one of the largest green energy projects in the world. The total investment for the project is $50 billion, with the first phase to be implemented starting next year. Azim Steiner, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP, said: “Over the nearly 40 years since the establishment of World Environment Day, cities and communities in India have always been the most active promoters of this day; every year, various activities are carried out across India to celebrate World Environment Day.” Therefore, India, an economy with extremely rapid development, truly deserves to be the host country for World Environment Day in 2011. " WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY THEMES. Below are the themes from previous years, from 1974 to 2010, in both Chinese and English. 1974: Only One Earth. 1975: Human Settlements. 1976: Water: Vital Resource for Life. 1977: Ozone Layer, Environmental Concerns; Land Loss and Soil Degradation; Deforestation – Focus on ozone layer depletion, land erosion, soil degradation, and deforestation. 1978: Development Without Destruction. 1979: Only One Future for Our Children – Development Without Destruction. For children and the future – development without destruction. 1980: A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction. A new decade, a new challenge – development without destruction. 1981: Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains and Environmental Economics. Protect groundwater and human food chains, and prevent pollution by toxic chemicals. 1982: Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns). Ten years since the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment – raising environmental awareness. 1983: Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy. Manage and dispose of hazardous waste, prevent damage caused by acid rain, and improve energy efficiency. 1984: Desertification. 1985: Youth: Population and the Environment. Youth, population, and the environment. 1986: A Tree for Peace. Environment and peace. 1987: Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof. Environment and housing. 1988: When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last. Protecting the environment, sustainable development, and public participation. 1989: Global Warming; Global Warning. Be vigilant about global warming. 1990: Children and the Environment. Children and the environment. 1991: Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership. Climate change – the need for global cooperation. 1992: Only One Earth, Care and Share. Only one Earth – care for it together and share it together. 1993: Poverty and the Environment – Breaking the Vicious Circle. Poverty and the environment – breaking the vicious cycle. 1994: One Earth One Family. One Earth, one family. 1995: We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment. People around the world united to create a better future. 1996: Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home. Our Earth, our place of residence, our home. 1997: For Life on Earth. For life on Earth. 1998: For Life on Earth – Save Our Seas. For life on Earth – save our oceans. 1999: Our Earth – Our Future – Just Save It! Saving Earth means saving the future. 2000: The Environment Millennium – Time to Act. The environment millennium – it’s time to take action! 2001 Connect with the World Wide Web of life – All things in the world, the web of life. 2002 Give Earth a Chance – Let the Earth be full of vitality. 2003 Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It! Water: The source of life for two billion people. 2004 Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive? The survival of the oceans is everyone’s responsibility. 2005 Green Cities – Plan for the Planet! Create green cities to protect our planet. China’s theme: Everyone’s participation in building a green home. 2006 Deserts and Desertification – Don’t Desert Drylands! Prevent dry lands from turning into deserts. China’s theme: Ecological security and an environment-friendly society. 2007 “MELTING ICE - A HOT TOPIC?” Glacial melting poses serious consequences. China’s theme: Reducing pollution and building an environment-friendly society. 2008 Kick the habit, towards a low carbon economy – Change traditional attitudes and embrace a low-carbon economy. China’s theme: Green Olympics and an environment-friendly society. 2009 Your Planet Needs You – Unite to Combat Climate Change. The Earth needs you: Unite to address climate change. China’s theme: Reducing pollution – Take action. 2010 Many Species. One Planet. One Future – Diverse species, one planet, one shared future. China’s theme: Low-carbon emissions and a green lifestyle. One Earth, one shared future.