Biodiversity
is the variation of life forms within a givenecosystem, biome, or for the
entireEarth.Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of biological
systems. The biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many millions of distinct biologicalspecies, which is the product of nearly 3.5 billion years of evolution.
International Year of Biodiversity
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The
International Year of Biodiversity
(IYB) is a year-long celebration of biological diversity and its value for life on Earth, taking place around the world in2010. Coinciding with the date of the 2010 Biodiversity Target, the Year was declared by the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2006.The International Year of Biodiversity will help raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity all over the world. Saving biodiversity requires an effort from everyone.Through activities and events in many countries, the global community will work together to ensure a sustainable future for us all.
Biodiversity is lifeBiodiversity is our life
Humans are part of nature’s rich diversity and have the power to protect or destroy it.Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is essential to sustaining the living networksand systems that provide us all with health, wealth, food, fuel and the vital servicesour lives depend on.Human activity is causing the diversity of life on Earth to be lost at a greatlyaccelerated rate. These losses are irreversible, impoverish us all and damage the lifesupport systems we rely on everyday. But we can prevent them.2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. Let’s reflect on our achievements tosafeguard biodiversity and focus on the urgency of our challenge for the future. Nowis the time to act.1
The celebrations of the International Year of Biodiversity are a unique opportunity toraise public awareness about the vital role of biodiversity sustaining life on Earth,supporting ecosystem services and of its importance to human wellbeing and povertyreduction.The main goals of the International Year of Biodiversity are to:
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Enhance public awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity and of the underlying threats to biodiversity
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Raise awareness of the accomplishments to save biodiversity that have already been realized by communities and governments
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Promote innovative solutions to reduce the threats to biodiversity
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Encourage individuals, organizations and governments to take immediatesteps to halt biodiversity loss
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Start dialogue between stakeholders for the steps to be taken in the post-2010 period.Every person in the world is invited to participate, to act and to share experiences withothers.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity (resolution 61/203). This year coincides with the 2010 BiodiversityTarget adopted by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and by Headsof State and government at the World Summit for Sustainable Development inJohannesburg in 2002.The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, based in Montreal,Canada, is coordinating the International Year of Biodiversity.Established at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Convention onBiological Diversity (CBD) is an international treaty for the conservation andsustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the multiple benefits of biodiversity. The CBD has near-universal participation, with 191 Parties.
At the international level International organizations will celebrate the year through anumber of events that highlight what is being done.By GovernmentsGovernments are the main coordinators of the celebrations. While governments aremaking plans, here are some ideas of what to do:2
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Extensive website and information materials distributed widely;
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Coordinated series of celebrations at national, regional and local levels;
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Extensive support to events created by civil society organizations and others;
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National support to promote “2010 Success Stories”, including recognitionthrough prizes and certificates of exemplary actions by citizens in support for biodiversity;
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Exhibition on “2010 Success Stories” at the CEPA fair, at COP-10;
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Release of National Reports and National Biodiversity Strategies and ActionPlans (NBSAPs);
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Extensive mobilization of Natural History Museums, including support for theorganization of travelling exhibitions;
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Sponsor and publicize activities organized by biodiversity-related scientificsocieties and research centres;
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Partnerships with broadcasters, including sponsorship of film festivals;
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Support for local biodiversity monitoring programmes;
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Holding of youth events, including symposia, competitions, etc.;
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Integration of biodiversity issues into the Education system.By NGOs
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Adapt and adopt the International Year of Biodiversity messages and thendiffuse them in your networks.
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Highlight and promote your own 2010 success stories.
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Provide support and resources to national events including on:
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the International Day for Biodiversity 22 May.
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the World Environment Day, 5 June, and other events.
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Build links between biodiversity and other environmental and developmentthemes.
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Organise events at key international meetings.
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Become involved in the Convention on Biological Diversity process.By anyone who wishes to participateAs part of the International Year of Biodiversity, people around the world are invitedto submit ideas of biodiversity-friendly practices, which:
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have a positive impact on biodiversity.
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promote the sustainable use of biodiversity.
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promote innovative solutions to biodiversity-related problems.
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motivate individual action to protect biodiversity.
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can be adapted and imitated by others.
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raise people’s awareness of biodiversity.
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show the relationship between biodiversity and other themes.
Everyone can help biodiversity and the environment by living in a sustainablemanner. How are we affecting our surrounding environment? How do our actionsaffect more distant ecosystems and other people? To consume less, waste less, reuse3
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