May 22nd – the International Day of Biological Diversity

In 2000, the General Assembly ordered to celebrate the International Day of Biological Diversity annually on May 22nd – on the day of adoption in 1992 of the approved text of the Convention on biological diversity. Today more than 200 countries serve as parties to this Convention.

The main aim of the International Day of Biological Diversity is to draw attention of the public to the problem of permanent extinction of many representatives of flora and fauna on the Earth. Biological diversity of our planet continues to decrease, while ecological balance continues to shift. About 60% of the ecological system degrades or it is used recklessly, which leads to the loss of biological diversity and severe consequences that might worsen within the next 50 years.

Biodiversity of islands is the topic of the day chosen in 2014 by the UN.