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International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated every year on May 22 to raise awareness about biodiversity’s importance and promote its conservation and sustainable use. Biodiversity is the variety of all living organisms, from the tiniest microbes to the largest animals and plants and the ecosystems they inhabit. It is essential for the functioning of ecosystems and provides a wide range of services to humans, including clean air and water, food, medicine, and recreation.
The theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2023 is “We’re Part of the Solution.” The theme highlights the urgent need for all individuals, communities, and organizations to take action and be part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis. The United Nations has recognized that biodiversity loss is one of humanity’s most critical challenges and has made it a priority issue.
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the main international agreement on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The CBD was established in 1992 and has 196 parties. The CBD’s objectives are to conserve biodiversity, ensure its sustainable use, and promote the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. The CBD’s work is guided by the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, which includes 20 Aichi Target targets. The Aichi Targets aim to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity, and improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity.
The United Nations has taken various steps to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared the period 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity to promote the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The United Nations has also designated May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and its conservation.
The United Nations has also established various initiatives and programs to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. For example, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has a Global Programme on Nature for Development, which works to integrate biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management into development planning and policies.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has a Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services Branch, which provides technical assistance and capacity-building support to countries for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
In conclusion, International Day for Biological Diversity is an important event that raises awareness about the urgent need to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity. The United Nations has recognized that biodiversity loss is a critical challenge facing humanity and has made it a priority issue. The CBD, the leading international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, provides a framework for action to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss. The United Nations has also established various initiatives and programs to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. All individuals, communities, and organizations must take action and be part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis.
When biodiversity has a problem, humanity has a problem.
Biological diversity is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms, but it also includes genetic differences within each species — for example, between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock — and the variety of ecosystems (lakes, forest, deserts, agricultural landscapes) that host multiple kinds of interactions among their members (humans, plants, animals).
Biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. Fish provide 20% of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Over 80% of the human diet is provided by plants. As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare.
But the loss of biodiversity threatens all, including our health. It has been proven that biodiversity loss could expand zoonoses – diseases transmitted from animals to humans- while, on the other hand, if we keep biodiversity intact, it offers excellent tools to fight against pandemics like those caused by coronaviruses.
Some tragic facts that invite humanity to change their behavior and lifestyle:
1- Current negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystems will undermine progress towards 80% of the assessed targets of 8 Sustainable Development Goals (namely Decent Work and Economic Growth)
2- Three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions.
3- One million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction.
While there is growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to future generations, certain human activities are significantly reducing the number of species. Given the importance of public education and awareness about this issue, the UN decided to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity annually.
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