New Stamps honour United Nations International Year of Forests

Posted on iseek: Wednesday, 12 October 2011, New York | Author: Department of Management 

The United Nations Postal Administration will place a bold punctuation mark on the International Year of Forests awareness campaign with a new set of postage stamps scheduled to go on sale 13 October 2011.  

Designed by artist, Sergio Baradat, these vibrant new stamps remind everyone that trees and forests provide a vital link to life on earth. An illustrator, photographer, and painter; it seems that every medium is a paintbrush for the internationally celebrated designer. Whether book or magazine covers, designing corporate identities, photographing architectural wonders in Havana, or turning his paintings into fine china patterns, Baradat is always on the cutting edge of creative design.

“Sergio’s colourful designs remind us all that one third of the Earth’s land surface is covered by trees,” says UNPA Chief David Failor.  “The stamps also remind us that mankind plays an important role in maintaining the balance provided by forests.”

Throughout the year, people around the world have used the General Assembly’s declaration as a platform to amplify the discussion about the value of our planet’s forests.   The global observance provided a broader recognition of the role properly managed forests play in everything from climate change to providing wood, medicines and livelihoods for people.

The International Year of Forests stamps are the final stamps to be issued in the 60th Anniversary year of UNPA.  Other subjects such as Endangered Species, the 50th Anniversary of Human Space Flight, and 30 years of living with HIV/AIDS reveal the power postage stamps have to tell history and raise awareness.

UNPA will hold a first day of issue ceremony for the new Forest stamps at the National Postage Stamp Show on 13 October 2011 at The New Yorker Hotel in New York City. As part of the ceremony, Baradat will deliver a talk about his designs and participate in an autograph session for United Nations stamp collectors and fans.  A visit to the General Assembly building for a presentation and autograph session is being planned for late October.

To order the International Year of Forests stamps and related products from UNPA, please visit the website or call UNPA at 1 (800) 234-UNPA (8672).

For more information on the International Year of Forests, please visit www.un.org/forests or www.un.org/esa/forests.