International Day for Biological Diversity

The Natural Sciences Division of UNESCO have dcleared May 22 as International Day of Biodiversity. This year’s theme dedicated to “Biodiversity and Agriculture,” seeks to highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture not only to preserve biodiversity, but also to ensure that we will be able to feed the world, maintain agricultural livelihoods, and enhance human well being into the 21st century and beyond.

The Natural Sciences division implements major international programs around several major themes. These themes include Freshwater, marine, ecology, earth sciences and basic sciences, while at the same time promoting national and regional science and technology polices and capacity building in the sciences, engineering and renewable energy. The division focuses on solving problems and enabling people/institutions (from those regions where the problems exist) to solve these problems.

Emphasis is given to developing countries, in particular to Africa and to natural disaster prevention. Programs are designed to respond to the international goals and challenges of climate change, gender equality, the eradication of poverty and sustainable development, in particular in small island developing states.

Celebrate Biological Diversity. Go Green!
UNESCO acts as an advocate for science, as a platform for sharing ideas and standard setting, and promotes dialogue between scientists and policy makers. It empowers and catalyses innovative initiatives in the field of international cooperation in science, in particular through networks and capacity building activities.