The UN has declared this year to be the International Year of Forests. What does that mean? It is to try to encourage people to celebrate people's actions to sustainably manage the rainforests: http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/
I only heard of it from researching on the web. Have not heard news about it or did we miss something? Perhaps the devastations on our planet have been hogging the headlines. Was the Queensland flooding an effect of Global Warming (so easy to blame Global Warming for everything) or is it because it once was covered in rainforests?

Some more web research reveals that when Captain James Cook landed on Australia, it was covered in rainforests. Since 1788 over 50% of the rainforests were cleared. Rainforests act like sponges, soaking up vast amounts of water rapidly.

Another web search indicates on a number of sites that 14% of the world was once covered in rainforests. This is now down to a mere 5-6% and we are still decimating large areas.  The 2011 flooding and mudslides in Brazil were purely due to clearing of rainforests. More and more "natural" disasters seem man made

So the call for an "International Appreciation of Rainforests" needs more action and less talk! We know what we should be doing but are we going to do anything or will we continue to sit apathetic because we do not want to see beyond our immediate brick surroundings? Will governments and corporates take more responsibility and think more sustainably rather than the profits of declaring carbon trading!

I will research and read more and perhaps my cynical views of how we enjoy destroying our world will be lessened. I hope so.