International Day for Biological Diversity (22/05)

Every year since 2001, the International Day for Biological Diversity has been celebrated on May 22.

This Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1995 in a special resolution (№ A/RES/49/119) based on the recommendation of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which took place in 1994.

Initially, the International Day of Biological Diversity was recommended to be celebrated on December 29, — on the day the Convention on Biological Diversity enters into force. However, due to the large number of holidays celebrated at this time of year, many countries have encountered difficulties in planning and implementing activities to celebrate the Day, and in 2000 it was decided to change this date to 22 May (resolution 55/201).

Biological diversity, or biodiversity, — is all the diversity of life on the planet, which is rapidly declining today. Plants are dying out, animals and forests are disappearing from the face of the Earth... One million species of flora and fauna are in danger of extinction. This is largely due to — active human activity.

Concern about the future fate of species biological diversity on planet Earth was expressed in the fact that at the UN Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development, held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, the entire world community was invited to first pay attention to the conservation of biological diversity — of both living species and ecological systems.

African white pelican — endangered species (Photo: klublu, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

In this regard, the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted, and today about 200 states are parties to it. The goals sought by countries that have acceded to the Convention are clear: the conservation of biological diversity of living species and ecological systems, the sustainable use of components of biological diversity and the benefits of the use of genetic resources.

The main task of the International Day of Biological Diversity — is to draw public attention to the problem of the irreversible disappearance of many representatives of flora and fauna on Earth.

Despite active efforts over the past 20 years, the planet's biodiversity has continued to decline and the ecological balance is still undergoing changes. About 60% of the ecological system is degraded or used recklessly, leading to loss of biodiversity and dire consequences that could worsen in the next 50 years.

The World Conservation Union identifies seven main factors contributing to the loss of biological diversity: - Loss and fragmentation of natural environments; - Competition from invasive species; - Environmental pollution; - Global climate change; - Desertification; - Population growth and overconsumption; - Reckless use of natural resources.

Most of these factors are the result of human activity. But natural resources are the basis of people’s life support. Protecting and conserving genetic resources, species and ecosystems requires urgent and decisive action to ensure the sustainable use of biological resources.

Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka, Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve (Photo: Vadim Petrakov, licensed by Shutterstock.com)

One of the ways to fight to preserve the diversity of life on the planet is to protect rare and endangered species of plants and animals, as well as take care of nature.

In December 2022, the UN adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — Historic Agreement, which sets goals and specific measures to stop and reverse the loss of nature by 2050. The Framework's goals include restoring 30% of ecosystems, halving food waste and investing at least $200 billion annually in biodiversity strategies.

Every year, the UN Secretary-General prepares a message to the general public on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity. And the holiday itself takes place every year under a specific theme, among which in different years were: «Biodiversity and poverty alleviation — challenges for sustainable development», «Biodiversity: life insurance in our changing world», «Climate change and biodiversity», «Invading alien species», «Diversity of forests», «Water and biodiversity», «Island biodiversity», «Biodiversity of biodiversity, maintaining people's lives and their livelihoods», «Biodiversity and sustainable tourism», «Our biodiversity, our food, our health», «Nature — source of our solutions», «We are part of the solution», «Building a common future for all living», «From agreement to action: restoring biodiversity» and others.



• Infographics — poster «International Biodiversity Day»

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