It is an International Year of Planet Earth flagship initiative that aims to enable online access to dynamic digital geological map of the world for everyone.

Next year, West Virginia will play a principal role in the United Nations' International Year of the Older Person as host of the conference on rural health.

In 1994, Mardi Gras Festival adopted the theme We are Family, a nod to it being International Year of the Family.

The year 1998 was designated International Year of the Ocean by UNESCO.

In 2006, the United Nations declared 2011 to be International Year of Forests.

United Nations has declared 2009 as the 'International Year of Astronomy'.

The United Nations designated 2011 the International Year of Forests and International Year of Chemistry.

Previously, the Queen was a member of the Advisors Group for the United Nations' International Year of Microcredit 2005.

The theme of this International Year, however - Towards a Society for All Ages - elicits the full engagement of all segments of society.

It is named after the potato and the United Nations' International Year of the Potato.