聯合國在3月21日慶祝第一個國際森林日，糧農組織（FAO） 秘書長達席瓦（Jose Graziano da Silva）提議全世界都應支持「森林零非法毀林」的目標，他在聯合國宣布這項最新國際紀念日的儀式中，發表了非法毀林和飢荒兩者之間的關聯。
他表示，「在許多國家，非法毀林使生態系統逐漸崩壞、可用：水資源減少、木材燃料取得受限，而這些都會影響到食物安全，特別是對窮人而言。停止非法毀林和森林退化，大大有助於終止飢荒和極度貧窮，帶來永續發展。如果各個國家、國際金融機構、聯合國、公民社會團體和私人部門都共同來處理這個議題，我們可以取得正面的成果。」
聯合國大會正式宣布3月21日為「國際森林日」，從2013年起，每年都會辦理慶祝活動，向世人宣導森林和樹木對地球上生命的重要性。聯合國秘書長潘基文呼籲各國政府、企業和公民團體共同保護森林，杜絕毀林、防止環境退化、讓那些依靠這珍貴環境生存的生命享有永續的生活。
潘基文說，「森林對我們來說是很重要的，它們覆蓋了將近三分之一的地球表面，並提供了多種無價的社會、經濟與環境效益。」他表示，森林提供了世界上3/4淡水的來源，它們使邊坡穩定並防止土石流，也能夠在海嘯和風暴來襲時保護沿海居民。除此之外，超過300萬人民使用木材作為燃料。
潘基文指出，森林也有助於對抗氣候變遷，它們能儲存比大氣更多的碳。然而每年約有1300萬公頃的森林遭到破壞，每年因為毀林而產生的溫室氣體排放，佔了全年排放量的12~20%左右。
同一時間，地中海國家高層官員在18日到22日這週齊聚阿爾及利亞特萊姆森省的特萊姆森森林國家公園，共同策劃保護地中海森林之策略架構。
大會在21日通過「特萊姆森宣言」，該宣言最關鍵的項目便是認可「地中海森林策略架構」（Strategic Framework on Mediterranean Forests）是有效的策略工具，讓地中海地區的森林政策能因應全球變遷衝擊而有所調整。
國際森林日這一天，阿爾及利亞學童在特萊姆森種樹，和其他團體也在全球各地種下樹苗來慶祝第一個國際森林日。
另外，FAO以在這一天公佈第一份針對地中海森林的報告《地中海森林現況》，其中顯示，地中海的森林現在正承受不斷成長之人口的壓力，也將會受到氣候變遷嚴重的衝擊。
這份報告由20多個科技機構及非政府組織，以及近50名由FAO和「藍色計畫中心」（地中海永續發展委員會主要的運作中心）一同召集作者和其他投稿者共同完成。
FAO預計每5年發佈一次《地中海森林現況》報告，讓地中海森林和其他林地的經營管理機構有機會團結並動員起來。
On the first International Day of Forests, celebrated Thursday by the United Nations, Jose Graziano da Silva proposed that all countries support a Zero Illegal Deforestation target.
As director-general of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, Graziano da Silva linked illegal deforestation and hunger at a ceremony marking the UN's newest International Day.
"In many countries, illegal deforestation is degrading ecosystems, diminishing water availability and limiting the supply of fuelwood – all of which reduce food security, especially for the poor," he said. "Stopping illegal deforestation and forest degradation would do much to end hunger, extreme poverty and bring about sustainability."
"We can achieve positive results if countries, the international financial institutions, the UN, civil society and the private sector join forces to tackle these issues," he said.
The UN General Assembly has proclaimed March 21 the International Day of Forests. From 2013 on, the day will be observed each year to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of forests and trees to all life on Earth.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on governments, businesses and civil society to protect forests by reducing deforestation, preventing environmental degradation, and providing sustainable livelihoods for all who depend on this precious ecosystem.
"Forests are vital for our well-being. They cover nearly a third of the globe and provide an invaluable variety of social, economic and environmental benefits," said Ban.
Forests are the source of three-fourths of the world's freshwater, they stabilize slopes and prevent landslides, and protect coastal communities against tsunamis and storms. In addition, more than three million people use forest wood for fuel, said Ban.
Forests also help combat climate change as they store more carbon than is in the atmosphere, said the UN chief, yet some 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually, and deforestation accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.
High-level officials from Mediterranean countries met this week in Tlemcen, Algeria's forested national park in Tlemcen province, to adopt a Strategic Framework on Mediterranean Forests.
Based on the key recommendations adopted on Thursday in the Tlemcen Declaration, the future implementation of the Strategic Framework on Mediterranean Forests is viewed as a useful regional tool to adapt national forest policies in the face of global changes affecting the Mediterranean region.
Algerian schoolchildren planted trees Thursday at Tlemcen and other groups planted trees in many places across the world to celebrate the first International Day of Forests.
Mediterranean forests will be hard hit by climate change and are under severe pressure from population growth, finds the first FAO report on The State of Mediterranean Forests, published Thursday.
The report was developed by more than 20 scientific and technical institutions and nongovernmental organizations and nearly 50 authors and other contributors coordinated by FAO and Plan Bleu, the main support center of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development.
FAO intends to publish The State of Mediterranean Forests every five years, providing further opportunities to unify and mobilize partners in the management of Mediterranean forests and other wooded lands.
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