International Day for Biological Diversity 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. Biological Diversity Day was originally proclaimed on December 29. In December 2000, however, the UN General Assembly changed the date to May 22. This was partly meant to commemorate the adoption of the Convention at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and partly to avoid clashing with the various international holidays that occur in late December. So whether you’re from a desert climate, a forest, a valley, or a swamp, you ought to celebrate biological diversity today and every 22nd May annually.
This year, 2021, Biodiversity Day is being celebrated under the theme, ‘We’re part of the solution #ForNature’.
We are part of the solution
We are all ‘called’ to re-examine our attitudes towards nature. As the global community is called to re-examine our relationship to the natural world, one thing is certain: despite all our technological advances we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, medicine, food, clothes, shelter, fuel and energy, just to name a few.
This year 2021 the theme 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. That is the main message from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), key international instrument for sustainable development.
#ForNature
Let’s fight for Nature
