May 22–International Day for Biological Diversity

International Day for Biological Diversity has been commemorated annually on May 22nd, starting from the year of 2001. This International Day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1995 based on the Conference of Parties recommendations of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in 1994.

“Biological diversity” means variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes, which they comprise of; this includes diversity within species, between species and variety of ecosystems.

Convention on Biological Diversity – is an international treaty adopted in Rio de Janeiro on May 5, 1992. Objectives of the Convention are as follows: conversation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fairly and equitably obtaining of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources by provision of required access to genetic resources, transfer of related technologies considering all rights to such resources and technologies, as well as by proper financing. 

The Convention was opened for signature on June 5, 1992 and entered into force on December 29, 1993. In 1995 the Russian Federation ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity, thus undertaking series of obligations.