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With a (new) deadline of 31 July 2011, entries are invited from children and young people to the 2011 YUNGA International Drawing Competition on the theme of Forests. The competition is linked to the 2011 International Year of Forests. The drawing should reflect issues concerning forests and why they are important to our world. It could depict everyday actions that contribute to conserve these important wonders. Any type of drawing material can be used with the exception of crayons – for example pens, pencils, paints or even computer graphic programmes.

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to start planning your Green Wave celebrations! You have 30 days to think about and prepare your special day. Each year participants in The Green Wave celebrate the International Day for Biodiversity (IDB) by holding a special event. On 22 May, participating groups plant an indigenous or locally important tree species at or near their school. In some countries it’s too hot, too cold, too rainy or too dry to plant in May, so groups plant in another month but still hold a special ceremony on 22 May.

How do young people see life on Earth, the richness of ecosystems, the reasons underlying biodiversity loss and the actions required to stop this loss?

After three months of preparation some 111,000 participants from 1,588 groups in 43 prefectures across Japan celebrated The Green Wave by planting and watering 254,000 trees on 22 May 2010, the International Day for Biological Diversity.

The national campaign, which offered opportunity for children and youth of Japan to join with Green Wave participants across the world, was jointly promoted by the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.