The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the Earth Summit, as it is more widely known, saw world leaders come together and agree on a strategy for sustainable development, a paradigm that supports socio-economic progress and preserves earth’s natural resources while preventing environmental degradation. Several important agreements were reached at the Earth Summit: one of the most significant was the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Convention on Biological Diversity came into force on December 29, 1993, and this date was originally designated as the International Day for Biological Diversity. In 2001 the United Nations moved the official celebration day to May 22 of each year, due to the numerous holidays that take place in late December. A different theme is highlighted each year. Recent themes include: Forest Diversity (2011); Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation (2010); Invasive Alien Species (2009); and Biodiversity and Agriculture (2008).

Marine Biodiversity is the theme for this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), which provides parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and everyone interested in marine life, the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and increase practical action. Celebrations in your country.

Further Reading

Readings on Biodiversity (Environmental Libraries of Manitoba ELM)
SD-Cite Resources on Marine biodiversity
SD-Trends – Biodiversity

External Links

Arctic Council. Arctic Biodiversity Portal
Census of Marine Life
Convention on Biological Diversity
CBD Country Profiles
Text of the Nagoya Protocol
United Nations Decade on Biodiversity

Multimedia

Canada Oceans Lecture at SFU: Consequences of Canadian Marine Biodiversity. Simon Fraser University. (1:53)
Census of Marine Life (3:56)
Census of Marine Life Galleries
Marine biodiversity: Message from IUCN`s Director General (6:53)
Ted Talks – Biodiversity