The International Day for Biological Diversity is a United Nations-sanctioned day that aims to promote understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. This day has been celebrated on May 22 since 2001.
Biodiversity is the living fabric of our planet. The UNESCO states that it underpins human well-being in the present and in the future, and its rapid decline threatens nature and people alike. In 1992, Government leaders across the world came together to attend "The Earth Summit" to construct a strategy for sustainable development. It is a common knowledge that sustainable development is the way to ensure the well being of the population inhabiting the Earth as well as the well of the Earth itself. In the Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity was born but it officially came into force on December 29, 1993. To commemorate its birth anniversary, the International Day for Biological Diversity was also celebrated in the month of December. But in 2001, the United Nations proclaimed the International Day for Biological Diversity to be May 22. Each year, this day focuses on a particular theme and is celebrated according to it.
The 2021 theme for the Day is “We are part of the solution”. As per the Convention on Biological Diversity, the slogan was chosen to be a continuation of the momentum generated last year under the overarching theme, “Our solutions are in nature”, which served as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better.
Now Biological diversity is in danger in different parts of the world. There are various types of animals and plants found in the forests of India. India is not only famous for his coolest desert of Himalaya but also famous for his hottest desert of Rajasthan. Where many types of animals and plants are found, the area is called the hotspot of biological diversity. There are 34 hotspot areas of biological diversity in the whole world of which only four are is in India. Now deforestation is one of the reasons to destroy the biological diversity in India. Every 20 minutes, one animal or plant is destroyed forever.
Odisha is famous for his biological diversity. There are 18 sanctuaries and two National Parks in Odisha. Apart from that, there are 86 types of mammals, 4,073 types of birds, 2,720 types of plants, 110 types of reptiles and 20 types of amphibians in Odisha. In our country, there are 215 types of animals and 244 types of plants which are in danger. Biological diversity always fulfills the needs of the human beings. Even our basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, energy and medicines are fulfilled by this biological diversity. Therefore, we need to provide security to animals and plants and thereby maintain equilibrium in nature. safety and security of the plants and animals is therefore a pertinent question. In this regard, public awareness meetings and campaigns are very necessary. Proper implementation of forest acts can go a long way in saving the biological diversity in our State. The human being is mainly responsible for destroying biological diversity. Due to imbalance of biological diversity and climate change, we are facing the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic. Environmental pollution is a very important cause of the destruction of our flora and fauna. So none but we should take care of natural forests, animals and plants. We are the part of the solution.
(Dr Behera is an ex-Director, Department of Environment, Government of Odisha. Mob: 9437011837)