International Day for Biological Diversity 2024: To increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues, the United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). The international day of biological diversity was created by the United Nations General Assembly’s Second Committee in late 1993 on 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity). By adopting the 22 May International Day of Biological Diversity in December 2000, the UN General Assembly commemorated the adoption of the Convention’s text by the Nairobi Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on 22 May 1992. Part of the reason for this was that celebrating the date of 29 December was difficult for many countries due to the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year.
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International Day for Biological Diversity Theme 2024
In order to protect our planet’s biodiversity, World Day for Biological Diversity promotes awareness of this issue. This year’s International Day for Biological Diversity is themed, “Be part of the Plan“. It emphasizes how we can all help protect biodiversity.
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IDB Themes of Previous Years
Let’s have a look at past year’s themes of Biological Diversity.
| Year | Theme |
| 2023 | From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity |
| 2022 | Building a shared future for all life |
| 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 |
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How to celebrate the international day for biological diversity?
There are many ways one can celebrate the biological diversity day, we have mentioned few of them below.
Learn about the history of IBD: In 1993, the Convention for Biological Diversity came into force, which led to the establishment of the IBD. To increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues, the United Nations declared May 22 International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD). By moving the country celebration from December to May, many of the holiday season events held in December could be avoided.
Discover more about biodiversity: A key part of celebrating biodiversity is recognizing the importance of biodiversity to the daily functioning of your community, region, nation, and the benefits to mankind as a whole.
Check each year’s IBD theme: Each year, IBD celebrations focus on a specific theme. You can find the theme for this year, as well as past themes, on the International Day for Biological Diversity – 22 May website.
Explore local biodiversity activities online: Community organizations, municipalities, schools, businesses, and governments all participate in the annual IBD celebrations.
Become a part of The Green Wave: The Green Wave allows all students and teachers to get their school involved by planting a tree at 10:00 am local time and watering it to create a “green wave” across the world. The event is documented online and can be followed by all.
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Convention on Biological Diversity
International legal instruments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) provide guidelines for “preserving biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits of utilizing genetic resources”. It has been ratified by 196 countries.
As a concern for humankind, biodiversity conservation is a top priority. The Convention on Biological Diversity covers ecosystems, species, and genetic resources as well as biotechnology, including through the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Science, politics, education, agriculture, business, culture, and much more are all included in it that are directly or indirectly related to biodiversity and its role in development.
Conference of the Parties (COP) is the CBD’s highest governing body. This group of governments (or Parties) that ratified the treaty meets every two years to review progress, set priorities, and commit to work plans.
Montreal, Canada, is the home of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD). In addition to organizing meetings, drafting documents and coordinating with other international organizations, and collecting and disseminating information, its main function is to assist governments in implementing the CBD and its programmes. The Executive Secretary heads the Secretariat.
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What is meant by Biodiversity?
Biodiversity (from “biological diversity”) describes a variety of life on Earth including all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and includes all the processes that sustain life, including the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural.
Diversity encompasses not just rare, endangered, or threatened species, but also organisms we know little about, such as microbes, fungi, and invertebrates. As part of biodiversity, we include humans and human cultural diversity at the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. A biocultural approach refers to the dynamic, constantly evolving and interconnected nature of people and places, as well as the interrelatedness of social and biological dimensions. Human use, knowledge, and beliefs influence, and are influenced by, the ecological systems in which they live. All biodiversity, including species, landscapes, and cultural connections to the places where we live, whether in our hometown or overseas, are crucial to our wellbeing since they all contribute to maintaining a diverse and healthy planet.
All said and done, we must do our part to protect our planet’s biodiversity on this International Day for Biological Diversity 2024.
Reference: cbd.int
UN International Day for Biological Diversity FAQs
International day for biological diversity is observed on 22nd May, every year.
The theme of International Biodiversity Day 2024 is – “Be part of the Plan.”
In 1993, the first International Day for Biological Diversity was celebrated.
Earlier the IDB was celebrated on 29th December but later was changed to 22nd May.
In 2010 International biodiversity Year, a year-long celebration of biological diversity and its importance, was observed