This document discusses the International Year of Forests in 2011 and efforts to promote sustainable forest management. The key points are: - 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the UN to raise awareness about sustainably managing, conserving, and developing all types of forests. - At the 2010 Cancun climate conference, governments agreed on plans to protect forests, which are responsible for 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. - The UN says conserving and sustainably managing forests can help mitigate climate impacts, increase resilience, and slow biodiversity loss.

1. Welcome to the International Year of Forests, 2011, a global platform to
celebrate people’s action to sustainably manage the world’s forests. The
United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of
Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and
sustainable development of all types of forests. At the climate change
conference in Cancun, Mexico, governments agreed on plans to save forests.
Deforestation is responsible for 20 percent of the world's greenhouse gas
emissions, which contribute to global warming. “By promoting the
conservation and sustainable management of forests we can not only
mitigate climate impacts and increase resilience but go a long way
towards slowing the accelerating rate of biodiversity loss” the UN said.
“The clearest way to the Universe is through
a forest wilderness” -John Muir
Reflection: Forests: Intimacy. Communion,
Connectedness…Hope
Prior to the reflection together,
we each spend some time either in
a forest/grove of trees or under a
tree. Take time to listen to the
tree/s, to look at them
contemplatively, to touch them
tenderly, to breathe in the
fragrance around them.
What is stirring within you? What
are your desires?
Prepare five sacred spaces in different parts of the room or outside. The
names “Forests”, “Wishing Well’,” Poetry” “Meditation”, and “Action” to be
posted each in one space.
Readings: “We need to move from a spirituality of alienation from the
natural world to a spirituality of intimacy with the natural world, from
a spirituality of the divine as revealed in verbal liberation to a
spirituality of the divine as revealed in the visible world about us”
Thomas Berry

2. “…the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations’
- Rev.22.2
We are invited to move into the context of the new consciousness and a new
culture, a place of geo justice and engaged cosmology. Move to the five
different spaces taking our own time and pace in any order we desire.
Forest Space: Here, amid candles, cloth and statements about forests, we
are invited to plant a seed of a tree in a paper cup in the moist soil provided
and to water it. We then place the newly planted seed among the candles.
This is the place where the seeds of our passion for our forests can grow and
flourish. Spend time getting in touch with how I feel for forests…what do I
need to do to nurture what is already there or how can I begin a relationship
of intimacy with our forests.
Wishing Well Space: Here we are invited to take a pebble from a tray
provided and place it in a “wishing well”, while making a wish for the
Forests of our Earth. What is my deepest desire for our forests? What is my
vision for the forests of my country? The seeds we have planted need to be
nurtured and fostered by a vision strong enough to make it a reality.
Poetry Space: Here we are invited to compose a poem that comes from our
hearts about our trees and forests. It is an invitation to use the gift of
imagination to create a new future for our forests. In the journey of justice
making, what awaits us in the future has no predetermined pattern or
outcomes. We have to liberate the imagination in order to create a culture
of justice and peace.
Meditation Space: In this space cushions and
chairs are provided around candles, leaves,
tree saplings, barks of trees, and we are
invited to spend time in silence and
contemplation. A new creative and just
culture will only be realized when we who are
committed to nurturing a dynamic
relationship with earth, recognise that deep
consistent times of silence and sitting still are
necessary.
Action Space: In this space provided with
paper, pens etc we sign petitions to preserve
our fragile forests, or write letters to editors

3. or political leaders for policies/ support that will keep our forests and its
eco systems alive and well. An engaged spirituality culminating in action is
an essential part in our movement toward the new consciousness of a
dynamic relationship between our culture and cosmology.
Coming together to form a Mandala:
When we are all ready we gather around a large circle in the centre. We
place our seeds, pebbles, prayers, poems, petitions to form the Mandala
which is a symbolic image of our deep connections and oneness with our
forests, our earth our cosmos. Each of us is also an intimate part of this
Mandala, and form a community based on geo justice and engaged
cosmology.
Concluding Hymn: A New Consciousness
Forest Facts
Did you know that:
 Forests cover 31% of the total land area.
 Primary forests account for 36% of forest
area
 The livelihoods of over 1.6 billion people
depend on forests
 Forests are home to 80% of our
terrestrial
biodiversity
 Trade in forest products was estimated at $327 billion in 2004.
 Forests are home to 300 million people around the world
 30% of forests are used for the production of wood and non wood
products.
Reflection taken from India Connections IPA Newsletter February 2011