Every year May 22 is being observed as International Biodiversity Day (IDB) across the world to promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Objective: (i) To step-up understanding and awareness about biodiversity issues. (ii) To make people aware about the importance of biodiversity on the one hand and its unprecedented loss on the other.
2017 Theme: “Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism”.
The theme highlights the role of biodiversity in underpinning development.
The United Nations (UN) also has highlighted the importance of biodiversity as an important cross-cutting issue in in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Biodiversity: It refers to the variety of flora and fauna that make up the ecosystem.
The preservation of the ecosystem is vital to natural balance and human existence.
Background
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had proclaimed 22 May as the International Biodiversity Day by adopting resolution 55/201 on 20 December 2000.
The day commemorates the adoption of Agreed Text of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act.
Prior to adaptation of UNGA resolution, 29 December was designated as International Biodiversity Day to commemorate adaptation of the CBD.
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