International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated every year on May 22. The day, founded by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2000, seeks to spread awareness about enduring biodiversity concerns while also trying to increase the understanding of the steps needed to support the planet’s biodiversity, which has come under threat from human activity.

The United Nations General Assembly’s annual observance focuses on the significance of reevaluating our relationship with the natural world and collaborating more optimally to preserve our environment. While we are making technological progress on a regular basis, it is critical to remember that humans rely on a healthy ecosystem for survival. 

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History:

In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating May 22 as the International Day of Biological Diversity. The day also commemorates the 1992 signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The time leading up to the year 2000, the International Day for Biological Diversity was observed on December 29.

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Significance:

The day is significant because guarding biodiversity and recognising the threats to it is imperative. Failing to protect the ecosystems around us can lead to a wide variety of difficulties such as food security, health, and loss of livelihood. The Earth’s biodiverse environments are the fundamentals upon which human civilization has been built.

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Theme:

This year’s theme is “Building a shared future for all life.” The theme is in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which will be adopted at the upcoming Biodiversity Conference. The theme underlines the significance of biodiversity in tackling a number of long-term difficulties.

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According to the UN, human activity has altered three-quarters of the Earth’s land-based environment and approximately 66% of the marine environment, and the new data submitted by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) asserts that more than one million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction.