International Day for Biological Diversity

• 22 May 2021

Why in News

The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) (International Biodiversity day) is observed on 22^nd May every year.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993 proclaimed 22^nd May as IDB to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
    
    • The UNGA also declared the period 2011-2020 as the United Nations (UN) Decade on Biodiversity to promote the implementation of a strategic plan on biodiversity and its overall vision of living in harmony with nature.
    • It also declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
• 2021 Theme:
  
  • This year’s theme is “We’re part of the solution” which is a continuation of 2020 theme- Our solutions are in nature.
  • This serves as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.
• Some Global Initiatives to Save Biodiversity:
  
  • Convention on Biological Diversity:
    
    • It is a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity that has been in force since 1993.
      
      • India is a party to the convention.
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora:
    
    • It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
      
      • India is a member of the convention.

Biodiversity

• About:
  
  • It is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans.
  • It is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, but it also includes genetic differences within each species.
• Concerns:
  
  • World Wide Fund for Nature in its flagship Living Planet Report 2020 warned that global biodiversity is in steep decline.
  • It has revealed a global species loss of 68% in less than 50 years, a catastrophic decline never seen before.
• Need for Conservation:
  
  • It boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.
  • A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.
  • The world should conserve it so as to maintain the food chain. The disturbance in the food chain may affect the whole ecosystem.
• Some Indian Initiatives For Conservation of Biodiversity:
  
  • National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems.
  • Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017.
  • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
  • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Other Important Initiatives

• 5^th June: World Environment Day
• 22^nd March: World Water Day
• 22^nd April: Earth Day
• Last Saturday of March: Earth Hour

Source:DTE