World Environment Day

The UN declared 2011 the International Year of Forests with this year’s WED (World Environment Day) theme, “Forests: Nature at your Service.” In an effort to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and maintainable development of all types of forests, WED aims to develop green economies, conserve forests and insure that they will be around for generations to come. This Sunday, June 5th, India will join together millions of people from hundreds of countries around the world to highlight environmental activities that can teach individuals, schools, communities, states and nations to clean up their act and start thinking green.

First time, India is the global host of UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)World Environment Day. During this year, shifting from the past practice of organizing World Environment Day at New Delhi only, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India has planned a series of activities/ events/ campaigns during the first week of June 2011, across the country in New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve to highlight the intrinsic link between quality of life, the health of forests and forest ecosystems, and the sustainable use of forests. Long-term survival of forests is crucial for sustainable development and a green economy.

WEB is one of the principle vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The day’s agenda is to give a human face to enviromental issues, empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development, promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and people enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.