International Day for Biological Diversity - 22 May

Introduction		Theme		South Africa marks IDBD		Related links and sources		Branch Biodiversity and Conservation

Introduction

The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. 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 on 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 because 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.

Theme

The 2017 International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) will be celebrated under the theme, 'Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism'. The theme, indicated by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), coincides with the designation of 2017 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The celebration of the IDB under this theme is meant to raise awareness and action towards the important contribution of sustainable tourism both to economic growth and to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

South Africa's commemoration of IDB

Related links and sources

• Convention on Biological Diversity