International Day for Biological Diversity

Contents

• 1
• 2 What is the News?
• 3 About International Day for Biological Diversity(IDB):
• 4 About Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD):
• 5 Convention Protocols and other Initiatives:

What is the News?

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

About International Day for Biological Diversity(IDB):

• The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity(IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
  • Earlier, December 29 was designated as the International Day for Biological Diversity. But in 2000, the UN General Assembly chose May 22 to mark the day.
• The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) announces the theme each year.
• Theme for 2021:
  • The theme is “We’re part of the solution”. It is a continuation of the 2020 theme- Our solutions are in nature.
  • The theme serves as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.

About Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD):

• The Convention was signed at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. It is a legally binding treaty dedicated to promoting sustainable development.
• Parties: There are 196 parties to the convention. Nearly all countries have ratified it (notably, the US has signed but not ratified).
• Objectives:
  • conservation of biological diversity,
  • sustainable use of the components of biological diversity
  • fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
• Secretariat: The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada, and it operates under the United Nations Environment Programme.
• COP: The Parties (Countries) under the Convention of Biodiversity (CBD) meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called Conference of Parties (COP).

Convention Protocols and other Initiatives:

• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: It was adopted in 2000 and entered into force in 2003. It aims to ensure the safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms(LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity.
• Nagoya Protocol: It was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan at COP10. It entered into force in 2014. It aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way.
• Aichi Biodiversity Targets: These were included in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for the 2011-2020 period adopted by the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity. There are 20 Aichi Targets classified under 5 Strategic Goals.

Source: Down To Earth