On December 13th, the US Mission co-hosted, with the Republic of Poland, a reception at the UN of Geneva to commemorate the closing of 2011 as the International Year of Forests. Ambassador King, along with other high level country representatives, placed decorations on a live “United Nations tree”. The decorations symbolize the cultural, economic, environmental and social importance of forests in their respective countries. The tree ornament contributed by the United States was designed by American artist Mona Sfeir using recycled materials.

U.S. Mission Photos by Bonnie Carlson