IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Stephen Kelleher, Deputy Director of IUCN's Forest Conservation Programme, outlines progress made during the International Year of Forests.

In the Indus Delta of Pakistan, Siddiq Roonjha talks about his recent battles with cyclones as his home was flooded. Siddiq sees one big reason for these disasters—the vast areas of coastal mangroves which grew in a combination of saline and freshwater have depleted over time. He knows that planting mangroves is the only way forward; if protected and nurtured, the forest will one day be tall enough to shield his family.

What role do forests play in combating climate change and providing livelihoods for millions of people around the world? How do forests affect all of the 6.8 billion people on the planet? Stewart Maginnis, Director of IUCN's Environment and Development Group, answers these questions in an interview on Global Connections TV.

IUCN Director General Julia Marton-Lefèvre talks about her hopes for 2011, the International Year of Forests.

What if we could put back our lost forests, restore their vital functions, cool the planet, protect wildlife, rescue lives...sustainably? Economically?

Gill Shepherd, IUCN's Thematic Adviser on Poverty and Landscapes, speaks on the latest thinking on forests and poverty, drawing from lessons that have come out of IUCN's innovative 'Livelihoods and Landscapes Strategy' (LLS).

See how successful restoration of damanged natural ecosystems can improve human well-being.