Rovaniemi in the north of Finland is home to Santa’s main post office, which receives and responds to half a million letters to Santa each year. However, Santa Claus is taking time off from his busy schedule this year to embrace an environmental issue close to his heart – the state of Europe’s forests. Today Minister Koskinen nominated Santa as the Ambassador for European Forests. “The future of our planet is in the hands of the children of today,” said Santa. “It is very important that they fully understand the value of our forests because so much of their well-being and prosperity will depend on healthy forests they can use wisely and pass on to their own children. So I am very happy to play my small part in helping them to understand that forests really are special gifts that can keep on giving forever.” “Santa is still an immensely powerful symbol of goodwill, and naming him the Ambassador for Forests is a way of inspiring children about the preciousness of forests and educating them on the need to safeguard the forest estate,” concluded Rojas-Briales.
The European Forest Week will be celebrated with forest-related events in Rovaniemi and throughout Europe, highlighting the contribution of forests, forest products and services to a green economy.
http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=34249
