51³Ô¹Ï

Close up of a tiger
The unrestricted exploitation of wildlife has led to the disappearance of many animal species at an alarming rate, destroying Earth's biological diversity and upsetting the ecological balance
Photo:Vladimir Wrangel/Adobe Stock

Be part of the Plan

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, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy, just to name a few.

This involves respecting, protecting, and repairing our biological wealth.

In December 2022, the world came together and agreed on a global plan to transform our relationship with nature. The adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also known as , sets goals and concrete measures to stop and reverse the loss of nature by 2050.

This year, the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity is ¡°Be part of the Plan¡±. This is a call to action to encourage governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, non-governmental organizations, lawmakers, businesses, and individuals to highlight the ways in which they are supporting the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan. to play and therefore can be #PartOfThePlan.

That is the main message from the , the key international instrument for sustainable development.

This year's celebration is expected to increase the visibility momentum in the lead-up to, to be held in Colombia from 21 October to 1 November 2024.

You can show support for biodiversity with the for the Day.

A mock newspaper front page from 2030 claiming blue whales were extinct

Let's avoid headlines like this with our "Paris Agreement" on biodiversity

Get to know the approved in December. Among its goals: restore 30% of ecosystems, reduce food waste by half, and invest at least $200 billion annually in strategies that benefit biodiversity. All by 2030.

When biodiversity has a problem, humanity has a problem

Biological diversity is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, but it also includes genetic differences within each species ¡ª for example, between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock ¡ª and the variety of ecosystems (lakes, forest, deserts, agricultural landscapes) that host multiple kind of interactions among their members (humans, plants, animals).

Biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. Fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Over 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants. As many as 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant©\based medicines for basic healthcare.

But loss of biodiversity threatens all, including our health. It has been proven that - diseases transmitted from animals to humans- while, on the other hand, if we keep biodiversity intact, it offers excellent tools to fight against pandemics like those caused by coronaviruses.

While there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to future generations, the number of species is being significantly reduced by certain human activities. Given the importance of public education and awareness about this issue, the UN decided to celebrate the annually.

Did you know?

  • Current negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystems will undermine progress towards 80% of the assessed targets of 8 Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions.
  • 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction.

 

You can show support for biodiversity by customizing the official logo with your name - share it on social media, videos, emails, and more!

No matter where you are, join the movement! Events are scheduled to take place around the world. Find an event happening near you and celebrate the incredible diversity of life on Earth.

Every piece of an ecosystem depends on the others like a jigsaw puzzle. For instance, a change in the temperature of an ecosystem will have knock-on effects on other things, like what plants and animals can grow and live there. As human populations have grown, we have begun to encroach on, and in some cases overtake, ecosystems causing their rich biodiversity to suffer. Dive with us in this interactive journey about the domino effect on biodiversity. 

Butterfly in branch

Conserving and restoring natural spaces, and the biodiversity they contain, is essential for limiting emissions and adapting to climate impacts. Climate change and biodiversity loss (as well as pollution) are part of an interlinked  the world is facing today. They  if we are to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and secure a viable future on this planet. 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the 51³Ô¹Ï, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.