The UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. IDF celebrates, and raises awareness about, the importance of all types of forests. Participating countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, including tree planting campaigns.

The International Day of Forests (IDF) theme for 2018 is: Forests for sustainable cities. This focuses on how forests and trees in urban areas can help to regulate temperature and water flows, cleanse the air, and provide nutritious food and shelter, as well as foster community cohesion and individual well-being.

CNVP is a leading international civil society organization that is active in all six Balkan countries. It uses evidence-based analysis to improve the sustainable livelihoods of rural communities affected by the ongoing process of environmental and climate change within a policy framework of European accession.

CNVP’s key areas of interest cover: climate change, environment, bio-diversity and balanced natural resource management; agri-rural development, including the development of agriculture and wood energy value chains; community mobilization and improved governance; as well as renewable energy and waste management.

CNVP’s work on sustainable forest management includes: multi-functional agro-forestry systems for farmers; small-scale, private and communal forestry development; forest governance and legislative reform; evidence-based forest policy; and decentralized forest management, including joint forest management.

CNVP is looking to identify CSOs that are active in the European Neighbourhood Space, the Caucasus and Turkey with which it can cooperate to build a greener economic environment, including the use of sustainable forest management.