International Biodiversity Day – From Agreement to Action
Appreciating our Shared Home: The Earth
On the 22nd of May, we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, an initiative by the United Nations aimed at fostering knowledge and understanding about the importance of our planet’s diverse life forms. This day is a global rallying point for efforts to safeguard the incredible variety of life that makes up our Earth.
Originally celebrated on December 29 – the day when the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came into effect – the commemoration date then shifted to May 22. This change, honoring the adoption of the Convention’s agreed text through the Nairobi Final Act on May 22, 1992.
Annual Themes: A Look at the Many Faces of Biodiversity
Each year, the Biodiversity Day highlights a unique theme that captures an important aspect of the environment. In 2023, the theme is “From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity.” This urgent call pushes us to transform our understanding of biodiversity into actionable conservation efforts. The past themes have ranged from the interconnectedness of food, health, and biodiversity to sustainable tourism’s role in biodiversity conservation.
The Convention on Biological Diversity: A Global Agreement
The CBD, with 196 parties that include 192 nations and the European Union, is a cornerstone of international environmental agreements. These parties are pledged to three primary objectives: conserving biodiversity, sustainably utilizing its components, and sharing benefits arising from genetic resources in a fair and equitable manner.
The Importance and Threat to Biodiversity
While often associated with the number of plants, animal, and microbial species, biodiversity also includes genetic variations within species and the arrangement of these species within ecosystems. Unfortunately, the alarming pace of biodiversity loss is a growing concern. This loss weakens ecosystems, making them more susceptible to disturbances like hurricanes and floods, predominantly impacting rural communities which directly depend on local ecosystems for survival.
Several factors such as deforestation, habitat loss, and climate change contribute significantly to biodiversity loss. Overexploitation and destructive harvesting practices increase the scale of the problem as well. Despite these threats, the Convention on Biological Diversity offers a comprehensive set of policies, tools, and guidelines to combat the biodiversity crisis.
The International Day for Biological Diversity: A Call to Action
This day is not merely a commemoration; it is a call to action. It encourages the world to reflect on our responsibilities to the Earth’s diverse life forms and to commit to sustainable practices that conserve them for future generations. Our actions today will determine the future of our planet and its rich biodiversity. Let’s move “From agreement to action” together.
Author: Sonya Epifantseva, Stanford University, CA, USA
Photo: Roman Nekoliak
