International Year of Biodiversity-2010

The United Nations proclaimed 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, and people all over the world are working to safeguard this irreplaceable natural wealth and reduce biodiversity loss. This is vital for current and future human well being. We need to do more. Now is the time to act. The International Year of Biodiversity is a unique opportunity to increase understanding of the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth. Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. Genetic, Species and Ecosystem diversity are the three levels of biodiversity. The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend. Biodiversity provides a large number of goods and services that sustain our lives. Protecting biodiversity is in our self-interest. Biological resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. Nature's products support such diverse industries as agriculture, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, horticulture, construction and waste treatment. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, alien species and over exploitation are the major reasons behind the high rate of biodiversity loss. The loss of biodiversity threatens our food supplies, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and sources of wood, medicines and energy. It also interferes with essential ecological functions. The United Nations proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The theme of 2010 biodiversity day is Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation.

Major goals of International Year of Biodiversity 2010 include

• Establishing protected areas to conserve biological diversity while promoting environmentally sound development around these areas

• Rehabilitating and restoring degraded ecosystems and promoting the recovery of threatened species in collaboration with local residents

• Respecting, preserving and maintaining traditional knowledge of the sustainable use of biological diversity with the involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities

• Preventing the introduction of, controlling, and eradicating alien species that could threaten ecosystems, habitats or species

• Controlling the risks posed by organisms modified by biotechnology

• Promoting public participation, particularly when it comes to assessing the environmental impacts of development projects that threaten biological diversity

• Educating people and raising awareness about the importance of biological diversity and the need to conserve it

• Reporting on how each country is meeting its biodiversity goals.