International Day for Biodiversity

Posted by Craig Clarke 
on May 21, 2011
 

The UN General Assembly, by its resolution 55/201 of 20 December 2000, proclaimed 22 May as The International Day for Biological Diversity, 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.

The day was first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, and the UN General Assembly, by its resolution 49/119 of 19 December 1994, designated December 29th (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity) the International Day for Biological Diversity. However, 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.

The UN resolution of  the General Assembly expressed deep concern about the continuing loss of the world’s biological diversity, and reaffirmed the commitment to the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and the appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and technologies, and by appropriate funding.

 

 

The theme in 2011 is forest biodiversity. 

  •  Tropical, temperate and boreal forests are home to the vast majority of the world’s terrestrial species
  • Some 80% of people in developing countries rely on traditional medicines–up to half of these medicinal substances originate from plants found mainly in tropical forests
  • Two thirds of all major cities in developing countries depend on surrounding forests for their supply of clean water
  • Over the last 8000 years about 45% of the Earth’s original forests has disappeared, most of which was cleared during the past century
  • Approximately 13 million hectares of the world’s forests are lost to deforestation each year, an area the size of Greece
  • Up to 100 animal and plant species per day are believed to disappear together with these tropical forest habitats
  • Emissions resulting from deforestation may contribute approximately 20% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions
  • Natural forests are among the best stores of carbon
  • Over three quarters of the world’s accessible fresh water comes from forested watersheds
  • More than six million hectares of primary tropical forests, which are especially rich in biodiversity, are lost each year.
Sponsors