The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year.
Themes
2021 - We’re part of the solution
2020 - Our solutions are in nature
2019 - Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health
2018 - Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity
2017 - Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism
2016 - Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining People and their Livelihoods
2015 - Biodiversity for Sustainable Development
2014 - Island Biodiversity
2013 - Water and Biodiversity
2012 - Marine Biodiversity
2011 - Forest Biodiversity
2010 - Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation
2009 - Invasive Alien Species
2008 - Biodiversity and Agriculture
2007 - Biodiversity and Climate Change
2006 - Protect Biodiversity in Drylands
2005 - Biodiversity: Life Insurance for our Changing World
2004 - Biodiversity: Food, Water and Health for All
2003 - Biodiversity and poverty alleviation - challenges for sustainable development
2002 - Dedicated to forest biodiversity
– The United Nations celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity by examining the fundamental role of nature in ensuring human health and good nutrition.
Observed every year on 22 May, the International Day for Biological Diversity throws a spotlight on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems as the basic support system for all life on Earth. The 2019 theme,
“Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”, aims to spread awareness of how food systems, nutrition and health all depend on the natural environment.
Each species on earth has its value and contributes to biological diversity which is essential for us humans. And if this biological diversity sustained damage due to our reckless behaviour, then the humanity would be deprived of many natural and other resources.
In the past few decades, there has been widespread exploitation of resources without due consideration to its maintenance which resulted in damage to the environment. Of late, there have been widespread concerns to preserve and protect the ecosystem.
In this context, the United Nations General Assembly in late 1993 proclaimed May 22 as "The International Day for Biological Diversity" (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
Despite technological advances by humans, we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter energy among others.
The theme for this year's (2021) IDB is "We’re part of the solution". This year's slogan is a continuation of 2020 theme- "Our solutions are in nature". This serves as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.
