Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2024; 31st Anniversary.
Organizer: United Nations
Coordinator: Convention on Biological Diversity
Objectives:
International Day for Biological Diversity is annually observed for the following purposes:
- to recognize the vital role that biological biodiversity plays in the ecosystem,
- to raise awareness of the continued loss of the world’s biological diversity,
- to promote the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of biological resources.
Inception:
International Day for Biological Diversity was observed for the first time in 1994.
History:
On 19 December 1994, the United Nations adopted Resolution A/RES/49/119 proclaiming 29 December as International Day for Biological Diversity, following the recommendation of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The date of December 29 was selected to celebrate the day the Convention on Biological Diversity went into effect. However, it was soon realized that it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December because of many other holidays that occur in late December.
On 20 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/55/201 and decided to proclaim 22 May of each year as the International Day for Biological Diversity. The date was selected to commemorate the adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the Rio Earth Summit on 22 May 1992.
How to Observe the Day
Learn, share, and action!
Since 1993, many organizations and communities have annually a range of educational and promotional events on May 22, including seminars, lectures, conferences, forums, and social media campaigns, to raise and spread awareness of biodiversity-related issues and promote innovative actions to avoid biodiversity loss.
Each year a particular theme is proposed by the United Nations for the International Day for Biological Diversity to focus on a pressing issue related to biodiversity.
Annual theme in recent years:
2023 theme: “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity”.
2022 theme: “Building A Shared Future for All Life”.
2021 theme: “We Are Part of The Solution”.
2020 theme: “Our Solutions Are in Nature”.
2019 theme: “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”
2018 theme: “Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity.”
2017 theme: “Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism”
2016 theme: “Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining People and Their Livelihoods.”
2015 theme: “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development”
Official website:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/biological-diversity-day
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