- The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
- When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December, was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity.
- In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, 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.
- This is a day dedicated to making sure that Earth remains a place where all creatures, no matter what environment they depend on, can not only survive, but also thrive.
- The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity announced the Biodiversity Day 2021 slogan which is “We’re part of the solution”.
- The slogan was chosen to be a continuation of the momentum generated last year under the over-arching theme, “Our solutions are in nature”, which served as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.
- From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better.
- Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Biodiversity Day 2021 will be commemorated through an online-only campaign.
- The year 2021 commemorates the beginning of the new biodiversity decade 2021-2030: the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, in order to highlight the urgency of action at the highest levels in support of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
