What is International Day for Biological Diversity?
- May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity
- The objective is to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues
- International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems
Why is it important?
- It is vital to examine the fundamental role of nature in ensuring human health and good nutrition
- Despite all our technological advances, we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our health, water, food, clothes, shelter, and energy
- Around 25% of all animals and plants across the globe are threatened with extinction
This Year’s focus
- Theme: Our solutions are in Nature
- Focus on biodiversity as the foundation for our food and health
- Emphasises hope, solidarity and the importance of working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature
Why is 2020 different?
- 2020 is a year of reflection, opportunity, and solutions
- All of us together, must increase the resilience of nations and communities, as we recover from Coronavirus pandemic
- Along with Covid 19 curve, this year, the world can strive to build a strong will for a global framework that will ‘bend the curve’ on biodiversity loss for the benefit of humans and all life on Earth
Biodiversity, a part of Sustainable Development Goals?
- From nature-based solutions to climate, to food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity remains the basis for a sustainable future
- Nature-based solutions with biodiversity safeguards are key for the conservation and restoration of several critical areas – the forests, freshwater resources, marine & ocean ecosystems, sustainable agriculture,food systems, livelihood, and settlement infrastructure
India’s Perspective
- Conservation of biodiversity is a national priority for India
- India is a megadiverse country rich in biodiversity (2.4% of land area, 7-8%of the species of the world, 91,000 species of animals and 45,500 species of plants), traditional knowledge and biological resources. Livelihoods of millions of people in India depend on biodiversity
- In India, the pace of extinction has increased manifold, because of human activities. Ecosystems are disintegrated, species in decline, and habitats lost
- These losses are irreversible as humanity is dependent on food crop, medicines, and other biological resources
- India firmly believes that scientific knowledge interacts with traditional expertise to provide the basis for solid decision-making
India’s position on biodiversity conservation…
- India is a leading country in having established a comprehensive legal and institutional system to realize the objectives of biodiversity
- India advocates protection of agriculture, farmer’s rights, animal welfare, environment, and ecology; while the developed countries are more in favour of scientific development and genetically modified foods
- For this International Day for Biological Diversity, India calls for ‘live and let live’ as its guiding principal. Lives on earth are interconnected; hence, the solution for conservation must be ‘welfare of all’.
Author profile
Monica (Managing Editor) is the quintessential researcher - she thrives on showcasing overlooked aspects that form the foundation blocks of people, places and issues. She is a social scientist by profession with masters in Economics and loves to travel.