The International Day for Biological Diversity or world Biodiversity Day proclaimed by the United Nations to promote the awareness of biodiversity issues. It is observed annually on May 22. The International Day for Biological Diversity was first established by the Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly at the end of 1993 on 29 December, the date the Biological Diversity Convention enters into force.
In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 22nd May as the International Day of Biodiversity to celebrate the adoption of the text of the Convention by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on 22 May 1992.
What is biological diversity?
The biological diversity is often known as a wide range of plants, livestock, and microorganisms, but it also includes genetic differences within each species — for example between crop and livestock varieties — and the different ecosystems (lakes, forests, deserts, agricultural landscapes).
Resources for biological diversity are the pillars on which we build civilizations. Fish supply nearly 3 billion people with 20% of animal protein. Plants provide more than 80% of the human diet. In developing countries, up to 80 percent of people live in rural areas rely on traditional plant-based basic health care medicines.
International Day for Biological Diversity 2023 Theme
Theme of International day for Biological Diversity Day 2023 – From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity
This theme promotes the outcomes of COP 15. The implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (agreement) must now take precedence over its implementation (activity).
In terms of preserving biodiversity, this year is unquestionably unique. With the passage of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a historic pact reached in December 2022 that lays out objectives and practical steps to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2050, we now have a renewed sense of hope.
Because of this, the International Day for Biological Diversity’s theme is “Build back biodiversity: from agreement to action.” The tagline supports the idea that, now that a worldwide action plan has been agreed upon, we must put all of the actions the agreement foresees into action by 2030. By 2050, we won’t be able to achieve protected and sustainable biological variety in any other way. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the major international instrument for sustainable development, is sending this message as its main lesson.
Aside from that, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will reflect the efforts for a sustainable biodiversity in the term 2021-2030.
The theme shows that Biodiversity remains an answer to the number of challenges we all face in terms of sustainable development. Biodiversity remains the basis for a sustainable future, from nature-based solutions to climate, to food and water security and sustainable livelihoods.
Facts about Biological Diversity Day
- Recent negative trends on biodiversity and ecosystems will weaken enhancements in the 8 Sustainable Development Goals towards 80% of the targets assessed.
- There is now a threat of extinction for 1 million animals and plant species.
- Biodiversity remains the basis of a sustainable future for health and healthy livelihoods.
- Human activities have substantially altered three-quarters of the land-based ecosystem and about 66% of the aquatic environment.
Swikriti Dandotia