Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources, opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and entered into force in December 1993. The Convention on Biological Diversity is, with 196 Parties so far, has near universal participation among countries. It seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and  ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments,  the  development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full  and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth,  NGOs, women and the business community.

In order to increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues further, the United Nations has proclaimed May 22 the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done as it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year.

Through a notification, the Secretariat announced that it would invite Parties to the Convention to participate in the 25th anniversary by, among other activities, organising and hosting local celebrations on 22 May 2018, the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). In line therewith, the Secretariat announced that this year's IDB theme will be: “Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity” in order to mark the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity and to highlight progress made in the achievement of its objectives at both national and global levels. It was further mentioned in the said notification that the Secretariat is in the process of developing a variety of outreach materials to support the celebrations on this important day.