The International Year of Forests, 2011 Celebrating Forests for People Forests are essential renewable resources that are important for the survival and wellbeing of people around the World. They provide shelter, food and medicine to people and are a major habitat for biodiversity. They provide clean water and play a vital role in maintaining a stable climate and preserving the environment, to name a few. In order to highlight the important role of forests, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests.