International Year of Biodiversity
Encyclopedia
The International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) was a year-long celebration of biological diversity
and its value for life on Earth
, taking place around the world in 2010. 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 was meant to help raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity through activities and events in many countries. This means, as well, to influence decision makers, and "to elevate biological diversity nearer to the top of the political agenda".
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), based in Montreal
, Canada, was coordinating the International Year of Biodiversity campaign.
Established at the Earth Summit
in Rio de Janeiro
in 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity
is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the multiple benefits of biodiversity. The CBD has near-universal participation, with 193 Parties.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
and its value for life on Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, taking place around the world in 2010. Coinciding with the date of the 2010 Biodiversity Target
2010 biodiversity target
The 2010 Biodiversity Target was an overall conservation target aiming to halt the decline of biodiversity by the end of 2010. The world largely failed to meet the target .-History of the 2010 Biodiversity Target:...
, the year was declared by the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
in 2006.
The International Year of Biodiversity was meant to help raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity through activities and events in many countries. This means, as well, to influence decision makers, and "to elevate biological diversity nearer to the top of the political agenda".
Background
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity (Resolution 61/203). This year coincided with the 2010 Biodiversity Target adopted by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and by Heads of State and government at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002.The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
(CBD), based in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada, was coordinating the International Year of Biodiversity campaign.
Established at the Earth Summit
Earth Summit
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 June to 14 June 1992.-Overview:...
in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
in 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the multiple benefits of biodiversity. The CBD has near-universal participation, with 193 Parties.
Main goals in UN view
The main goals of the International Year of Biodiversity were to:- Enhance public awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity and of the underlying threats to biodiversity
- Raise awareness of the accomplishments to save biodiversity that have already been realized by communities and governments
- Promote innovative solutions to reduce the threats to biodiversity
- Encourage individuals, organizations and governments to take immediate steps to halt biodiversity loss
- Start dialog between stakeholders for the steps to be taken in the post-2010 period.
See also
- United Nations Decade on BiodiversityUnited Nations Decade on BiodiversityThe United Nations General Assembly declared 2011-2020 the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity . The UN Decade on Biodiversity serves to support and promote implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, with the goal of significantly...
(2011-2020) - International Year of ForestsInternational Year of ForestsThe year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations....
(2011) - Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological DiversityThe Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
COP10 Nagoya Protocol (2010) - 2010 in science2010 in scienceThe year 2010 in science and technology involved numerous significant events and discoveries, some of which are listed below. The United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity.- January :...